Reigate Park Primary AcademyBSL Curriculum
British Sign Language (BSL) is embedded in everything we do at Reigate Park Primary Academy, from learning in the classroom and assemblies to our lunchtime menu, which uses signed graphics to support children’s choice of meal at lunchtime. Our aim for all our children is to have access to a BSL curriculum, which is taught to every child throughout the school.
Reigate Park Primary Academy first trialled our newly developed, highly ambitious, BSL Primary Curriculum in the academic year 2020 – 2021. This proved to be hugely successful, and all our Year 6 pupils who took part in their BSL level 101 exam in July 2021 passed the exam and gained a Signature approved accreditation.
Rational
Reigate Park has a BSL Working Party consisting of: Teachers of the Deaf, staff at Reigate Park, parents, staff from Signature, staff from the National Deaf Children’s Society, as well as our wonderful pupils. All of the members above contribute to our Vision of: Creating a primary BSL curriculum which can be taught to all pupils at our Academy, both hearing and deaf, and enable them to leave with a qualification in British Sign Language. Our focus is on practical communication for all our learners.
Our BSL curriculum, developed in 2020-2021 and continuously revised is now taught in Year 3-Year 6 to both hearing and deaf children. Foundation Stage and KS1 are also taught BSL through songs and stories.
We continue to develop and adjust our curriculum to support the needs of all our children. We also provide outreach support to other schools who wish to develop their own BSL curriculum in a similar way.
All our BSL Tutors are qualified to at least BSL level 3 or above.
Progress
Progress for both deaf and hearing pupils is measured using ongoing, formative methods and assessment for learning during each lesson. This is recorded on our BSL tracking sheets. BSL tutors also use the formative assessments to make summative judgements for all pupils. This demonstrates the progress they are making through the progression statements.
Once the children reach Year 5, they will be formally assessed using the Signature level 1 assessment criteria in order to gain an accredited BSL level 101 award.
Year 5 child sitting his BSL level 101 exam in July 2025.
Curriculum
Reigate Park is an approved Signature Assessment Centre and we are able to teach and assess both adults and children in BSL level 1. We have drafted, trialled and implemented long, medium and short term planning for BSL as well as timetabling a weekly BSL slot for our KS2 children.
Deaf Awareness
Every term, all classes throughout the school are taught age-appropriate Deaf Awareness lessons. These start with the key skills of gaining a deaf person’s attention and a basic understanding of deafness. By the end of Key Stage One, children have been introduced to hearing tests at audiology and how hearing aids can be fitted. During Years 3 and 4, children learn about how English and BSL stories differ, the realities of lip reading, how hearing aids and cochlear implants work and hearing and deaf culture. Our Year 5 and 6 pupils are taught how deafness and hearing levels are diagnosed, with the implications to hearing environmental and speech sounds, plus technologies and organisations that deaf people may access.
Extra-curricular activities:
Deaf Club
Our deaf children, their siblings and CODA (child of a deaf adult) children can also access our weekly Deaf Club in which the children complete creative and fun activities alongside their peers. Hearing friends can be invited to join the sessions, which develops their deaf awareness and signing skills.
BSL Ambassadors
Key Stage Two children are able to apply for the position of BSL Ambassador. Our ambassadors are excellent BSL role models to other children in school and support other pupils in achieving their BSL Level 101 certificate. There is a full application and interview process, with candidates needing to demonstrate their BSL skills as part of the interview. Training is provided so that ambassadors are able to support in BSL lessons: developing children’s skills, modelling conversations and assessing children’s knowledge and next steps.
The impact of Reigate’s BSL work is shown below:
July 2021- 10 children passed level 101 BSL exam as part of a school trial.
July 2022 – 32 children and 4 staff passed BSL level 101 exam.
July 2023 – 39 children (37 Year 5 & 2 Year 3) passed BSL level 101 exam
July 2024 – 38 Year 5 children BSL level 101.
July 2025 – 43 children (42 Year 2 & 1 Year 3) and 2 staff BSL Level 101
Year 5 children passing their BSL level 101 exam in July 2025.
We’re very proud of all the children, parents and staff at Reigate who work hard every day to provide our children with the lifelong skill of being able to use sign language in their daily lives.
If you would like any further information about Reigate’s BSL Curriculum, please email: SHarrison02@reigate.theharmonytrust.org