Making British Sign Language easier to grasp

With British Sign Language (BSL) becoming part of the school curriculum in the near future, providing them with a better baseline knowledge can give students the head-start they need to start using BSL with confidence and ease in the classroom. 

What is British Sign Language? 

British Sign Language is the signed language of the Deaf community in the UK – and is the first language or preferred language of around 87,000 Deaf UK citizens, although estimates vary. It’s recognised as an official language within England, Wales and Scotland.

This allows speakers to communicate using bodily movements, usually hands or arms, but also encompasses things like facial expressions too. These movements are codified, correlating to specific words so sign language speakers can clearly express themselves. 

Although some may think of British Sign Language as one universal set of signs, each country has their own version. Even individual cities across the UK can have slightly different variations – a bit like regional accents! 

It’s also not exclusively used by those with hearing impairments either. BSL is typically used by a wider spectrum of people who have difficulty with verbal communication, providing them with more tools to express themselves. 

A quick history of BSL 

• 1576 - The first instance of a deaf person using sign language in England appears in the marriage register of St. Martin’s in Leicester. This described the marriage of Thomas Tilsye and Ursula Russel and their signed communication. 

• 1698 - The Digiti Lingua was published by an anonymous Deaf author, featuring manual alphabet charts which laid the foundations for BSL two-handed alphabet. 

• 1760 - The first Deaf school in Britain opened in Edinburgh, the Thomas Braidwood’s Academy for the Deaf – followed by the first public Deaf school in Britian at Bermondsey in 1792. 

• 1890 - The British Deaf Association is founded in response to an International Congress on Education of the Deaf in Milan ten years prior. 

• 1944 - The National Deaf Children’s Society is formed at the same time as a new Education Act is passed, extending sign language education. 

• 2003 - After a big campaign BSL was finally recognised by the UK government as an official minority language. This has led to increased funding for the needs of the communication of people who are Deaf, and an increased awareness of the language - which now has a similar status to that of other minority national languages such as Gaelic and Welsh.  

• 2023 - The UK government begins consultations for creating a BSL GCSE for high school students, with implementation within the curriculum imminent. 

What are the benefits to learning BSL? 

Creating inclusive classrooms 

Creating a more inclusive classroom starts with clear communication. For students who are deaf or have hearing impairments, the classroom can present challenges, but incorporating BSL helps bridge the gap. It allows students to connect more confidently with all classmates and contributes to a more inclusive, supportive learning environment for everyone. 

Sign Supported English (SSE) can also be introduced into classrooms, using BSL signs but in the same order as spoken English. This can help support children with hearing impairments learn alongside other students, especially in areas of English grammar. 

Supporting academic development 

Picking up another language in any form can help support cognitive growth, creativity and critical thinking. It can also help with listening comprehension, so they can better follow instruction and analyse information.  
Having a second language also reflects well later down the academic line, helping them for university and life beyond, as well as providing an appreciation for other cultures.   

Improving communication skills 

Learning another language of any sort can help to refine cognitive abilities and language acquisition skills, in addition to improving memory, concentration and even problem-solving.  

It also makes speakers more mindful of how to communication effectively outside of just words, taking into consideration body language and facial expressions too. 

BSL lessons made simple 

If you’re interested in adding British Sign Language into your classroom, one of the most straightforward methods is through utilising external BSL resources. This can give you a range of different options for engaging students and reinforcing their language learning, so it sticks. 

• Flash cards can be great for gamifying BSL learning, letting students test their knowledge and memory so it becomes second nature. 

• Posters of popular words can serve as a quick reference guide in the classroom, reinforcing categories of conversation like numbers, common phrases and more. 

• Finger spelling guides are ideal for supporting learning for when there isn’t a specific sign for something, such as names or places.

These all work in tandem with any lessons you put together, so your students can start signing together in no time. Plus, for every sale of one of our BSL resources, a £1 donation will be made to BSL to help fund further crucial work to support hearing-impaired people and other BSL speakers.  

Our BSL resources support inclusivity and communication in your school, designed to encourage engagement, confidence, and everyday practical learning. These resources help every child feel seen and supported. Explore the full collection and make a meaningful step toward a more accessible classroom today.