# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
British Sign Language (BSL) Plan 2024-2030 - Dumfries and Galloway Council

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
The BSL (Scotland) Act 2015 requires public bodies in Scotland to publish plans every six years, showing how they will promote and support BSL.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
BSL Nursery to P1 Transition (Deaf Parents)

# data[].attributes.body
Coming soon...

# data[].attributes.headline
The Team can advise on acoustics, positioning, standardised and specialist assessment.

# data[].attributes.subject
The Team can advise on acoustics, positioning, standardised and specialist assessment.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Deaf-friendly teaching: For secondary school staff

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Open to print or view online (4.83 MB) New for 2026, this guide is for anyone who works with deaf pupils in secondary education. It includes advice, templates and checklists about the following topics. General teaching, learning and support strategies for deaf pupils Subject-specific adjustments for deaf learners Suppo

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Back

Primary target audience: Education professionals

This resource was previously called 'Supporting the achievement of deaf children in primary school'.
This resource is for anyone who is working with deaf children in a primary school. It aims is to help your school narrow any attainment gap that exists on entry to school between deaf and other children. It should help school staff:

understand the needs of deaf children

make sure the environment is suitable for deaf children's needs

ensure the necessary support and learning strategies are in place so that lessons are fully accessible - make sure any hearing technology used is working to its maximum potential

enable deaf children to feel fully included in all areas of their school life

know where to go for advice.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Deaf-friendly teaching: For primary school staff

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
This resource is for anyone working with primary school children.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
WATCH IN BSL Deaf Roots & Pride Transitions Scotland: Information, resources and guidance related to Transitions Support for Deaf Young People, Professionals and Parents.

Deaf Roots and Pride (DRP) Transitions Scotland, funded by the National Lottery Community Fund and The Robertson Trust, is aimed at Deaf children and young people (aged 8-25 years), living in central Scotland, who are transitioning from primary to secondary education or from secondary to further education and work.

Deaf children and young adults are provided with the opportunity to be exposed to Deaf culture, Deaf identity and British Sign Language, meeting and participating in workshops and events with positive Deaf role models. They can also become members of the DRP Youth Advisory Group, working as part of a team to support their peers.

Transition training and networking events are also available for professionals and parents, helping to provide the tools needed to support Deaf young people.

Have a look at some of DRP's videos below. Please get in touch with us if you'd like more information
I AM PROUD
TO BE DEAF

DRP Scotland @britishdeafassociation

One of the main things I learned from yesterday was about my identity. I am proud of my identity and being deaf DRP Mentee Taste Your Future is a really positive chance for Deaf children to learn about their future opportunities DRP Mentor

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Deaf Roots and Pride (DRP) Transitions Scotland, funded by the National Lottery Community Fund and The Robertson Trust, is aimed at Deaf children and young people (aged 8-25 years), living in central Scotland, who are transitioning from primary to secondary education or from secondary to further education and work.

# data[].attributes.body
Lively conversations about education issues e.g. Parents' Experience of Deaf Education (link above)

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
WATCH IN BSL Deaf Roots & Pride Transitions Scotland: Information, resources and guidance related to Transitions Support for Deaf Young People, Professionals and Parents.

Deaf Roots and Pride (DRP) Transitions Scotland, funded by the National Lottery Community Fund and The Robertson Trust, is aimed at Deaf children and young people (aged 8-25 years), living in central Scotland, who are transitioning from primary to secondary education or from secondary to further education and work.

Deaf children and young adults are provided with the opportunity to be exposed to Deaf culture, Deaf identity and British Sign Language, meeting and participating in workshops and events with positive Deaf role models. They can also become members of the DRP Youth Advisory Group, working as part of a team to support their peers.

Transition training and networking events are also available for professionals and parents, helping to provide the tools needed to support Deaf young people.

Have a look at some of DRP's videos below. Please get in touch with us if you'd like more information
I AM PROUD
TO BE DEAF

DRP Scotland @britishdeafassociation

One of the main things I learned from yesterday was about my identity. I am proud of my identity and being deaf DRP Mentee Taste Your Future is a really positive chance for Deaf children to learn about their future opportunities DRP Mentor

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Deaf Roots and Pride (DRP) Transitions Scotland, funded by the National Lottery Community Fund and The Robertson Trust, is aimed at Deaf children and young people (aged 8-25 years), living in central Scotland, who are transitioning from primary to secondary education or from secondary to further education and work.

# data[].attributes.headline
The Deaf Education Service comprises Teachers of the Deaf (ToD) and Communication Support Workers (CSW)

# data[].attributes.subject
The Deaf Education Service comprises Teachers of the Deaf (ToD) and Communication Support Workers (CSW)

# data[].attributes.headline
There are different types of listening technology pupils may use. Hearing aids and cochlear implants are distributed by Audiology departments. Assistive listening technology is loaned to pupils from our service. 

# data[].attributes.subject
There are different types of listening technology pupils may use. Hearing aids and cochlear implants are distributed by Audiology departments. Assistive listening technology is loaned to pupils from our service. 

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
When you visit websites, they may store or retrieve data in your browser. This storage is often necessary for the basic functionality of the website. The storage may be used for marketing, analytics, and personalization of the site, such as storing your preferences. Privacy is important to us, so you have the option of disabling certain types of storage that may not be necessary for the basic functioning of the website.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Document > Teaching and supporting deaf learners: a professional guide for teachers

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
When you visit websites, they may store or retrieve data in your browser. This storage is often necessary for the basic functionality of the website. The storage may be used for marketing, analytics, and personalization of the site, such as storing your preferences.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Deaf Awareness Week I National Deaf Children’s Society

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Celebrate Deaf Awareness Week (5 to 11 May 2025) with us and help make everyday life more deaf-friendly for children and young people.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Our postcards, posters and flyers can be a great way of raising deaf awareness in your setting, at events or with friends and family. Use the links below to order copies or download resources to print yourself.

Deaf awareness videos
Watch the videos

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Free deaf awareness resources l National Deaf Children's Society

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Download or order postcards, posters and flyers about being deaf-friendly to share with your setting.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Early years | National Deaf Children’s Society

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
If your child is of pre-school or early years age and deaf, find out more about their education, supporting them at nursery and developing their skills at home.

# data[].attributes.headline
Listening to different voices with a cochlear implant 

# data[].attributes.subject
Listening to different voices with a cochlear implant 

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Simulations of hearing loss can't give an exact idea of what the world sounds like to a deaf child, but they can give you an insight into the difficulties they face.

Imagine you're a child with a high frequency hearing loss trying to listen to your teacher.

HearLoss is an interactive Windows PC program for demonstrating to hearing people the effects of hearing loss.

The University of Southampton Auditory Implant Service offers simulations of different voices and music, and a link to the University of Granada, Spain where you can download a program to make your own simulations of sound perception through a cochlear implant.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Hearing loss simulation | Deafness simulation

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Simulations of hearing loss can't give an exact idea of what the world sounds like to a deaf child, but they can give you an insight into the difficulties they face. Imagine you're a child with a high frequency hearing loss trying to listen to your teacher.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Assistive technology | National Deaf Children’s Society

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Find out about technology that helps deaf children and young people at home, work or in education.

# data[].attributes.headline
What it’s like to hear with hearing aids and cochlear implants

# data[].attributes.subject
What it’s like to hear with hearing aids and cochlear implants

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
What Do Cochlear Implants And Hearing Aids Sound Like?

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Learn how hearing aids work, then conduct your own test to determine whether hearing aids can improve speech recognition for cochlear implant users.

# data[].attributes.headline
BSL is a recognised language with its own grammar, semantics and syntax.

# data[].attributes.subject
BSL is a recognised language with its own grammar, semantics and syntax.

# data[].attributes.body
BSL Resources can be found on GLOW.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.provider_name
British Sign Language - Learn BSL Online

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
What is British Sign Language? - Information about BSL

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Find out about about British Sign Language, who uses it, and where you can learn it. Also browse our free British Sign Language dictionary online.

# data[].attributes.body
The Deaf Education Service work with schools across Dumfries and Galloway to support the needs of deaf learners. This can involve working directly with pupils and/or advising schools and families on using technology, acoustics, language acquisition, deaf identity, inclusion and accessing the curriculum.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Watch how to sign ‘sign’ in British Sign Language.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Watch how to sign ‘sign’ in British Sign Language.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Lesson 1 – British Sign Language Fingerspelling Alphabet

# data[].attributes.headline
English (N3-H) - Good Practice in Assessing deaf candidates

# data[].attributes.subject
English (N3-H) - Good Practice in Assessing deaf candidates

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
British Sign Language (BSL) - Toolkit for Practitioners

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Education Scotland is a Scottish Government executive agency responsible for supporting quality and improvement in Scottish education.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Tiger and Elephant's special ears | Deaf awareness for the early years

# data[].attributes.headline
Other Communication systems include Sign Supported English (SSE), Total Communication, Signalong and Makaton.

# data[].attributes.subject
Other Communication systems include Sign Supported English (SSE), Total Communication, Signalong and Makaton.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Guidance on the completion of a Request for Assistance for teams within education.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
This document aims to support practitioners within education to complete a Request for Assistance form for submission to partners in other agencies and within Supporting Learners in Education.

# data[].attributes.headline
National Deaf Children's Society Information

# data[].attributes.subject
National Deaf Children's Society Information

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
We're here for you whenever you need us - if you've just found out your child has a hearing loss, you need support with making decisions as your child grows up or you work with deaf children. Join us today to access all our information, services and support.

Become a member

Join a community of more than 65,000 parents and professionals supporting deaf children and young people

Join for FREE

with others through events, workshops, campaigns and our online forum, Your Community

information and insights in our resource hub and receive the latest updates via email

one-to-one support and tailored services which help reduce barriers for deaf children

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Information and support | National Deaf Children's Society

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Explore our information and resources about childhood deafness for parents and professionals and find out about our deaf-friendly technology loan service.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
There are at least 12 million deaf people and people with hearing loss in the UK. For the first time, our major new research has brought home the impact that negative attitudes and a lack of understanding are having on our communities in their daily lives.

Over the last year, two thirds of deaf people and people with hearing loss have experienced negative attitudes from others. More than a quarter say they are ignored in public by most people, and if they miss the conversation first time, millions are being dismissed and told 'it doesn't matter.'

We know that most people simply don't know how to communicate with deaf people and people with hearing loss. Show that 'It does matter' with our top tips on how to include deaf people in the conversation. Simply pop your email address below for:

Tips on how to communicate with deaf people and people with hearing loss

Videos of common British Sign Language phrases you can learn and use

Small changes you can make to show 'it does matter', at home, in the workplace and out and about.

Public attitudes towards deaf people

Learn more from our communities about the negative attitudes they face in everyday life and how you can help. For a more in-depth look at these experiences, read our research report.

"It's friends and family closest to me that seem to think it's funny to make jokes of it or be impatient. Only one person close to me has ever asked how they can help me by communicating more clearly which is disappointing."

Read our research report

Watch the 'It does matter' report in BSL

Our report takes an in depth look at the everyday experiences of our communities, the general public's misconceptions around those experiences, and how we can make a better society for all.

To conduct this research, we surveyed 5,383 people who are deaf or have hearing loss and surveyed 2,768 of the general public.

Find out more

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
'It does matter': our public attitudes research

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Our major new research shows the impact negative attitudes and a lack of understanding have on our communities in their daily lives.

# data[].attributes.headline
The term ‘deafness’ is used as an umbrella term for any level of deafness.

# data[].attributes.subject
The term ‘deafness’ is used as an umbrella term for any level of deafness.

# data[].attributes.body
Deafness is usually identified at audiology.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
The level of your child's deafness can be described in terms of their decibel (dB) hearing level, or by the terms 'mild', 'moderate', 'severe' or 'profound'.

Based on British Society of Audiology definitions of hearing loss, this is the decibel hearing level range each of these terms refer to:

mild (21-40 dB)

moderate (41-70 dB)

severe (71-95 dB)

profound (95 dB).

Your child's audiologist will be able to give you more information about the level of your child's deafness. They will also be able to explain the sounds that your child can and can't hear.

Frequency

All sounds are made up of different frequencies, measured in Hertz (Hz). The frequency of a sound affects the pitch that it's heard at. For example, the high notes on the right-hand side of a piano keyboard are examples of high-frequency sounds. If your child has a hearing test where the results are plotted on an audiogram, you'll see low to high frequencies marked along the top.

It's possible to have the same level of deafness for all frequencies or to have different hearing levels at different frequencies. For example, your child may have more difﬁculty hearing higher frequency sounds.

Speech consists of vowels (a, e, i, o, u) and consonants (the remaining letters), that are made up of a range of frequencies.

Consonants communicate most of the information when a person speaks and they're also what make speech intelligible (able to be understood).

Consonants appear in the higher frequencies of an audiogram chartmeaning that children need to be able to hear the full range of speech sounds at a quiet level to be able to understand speech.

Your audiologist will be able to explain your child's audiogram and give you information about the frequencies affected by your child's deafness.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Levels of deafness | Main types of deafness

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
The level of your child's deafness can be described in terms of their decibel (dB) hearing level, or by the terms 'mild', 'moderate', 'severe' or 'profound'. Based on British Society of Audiology definitions of hearing loss, this is the decibel hearing level range each of these terms refer to: mild (21-40 dB) moderate (41-70 dB) severe (71-95 dB) profound (95 dB).

# data[].attributes.headline
Eradicating negative terminology around deafness

# data[].attributes.subject
Eradicating negative terminology around deafness

# data[].attributes.headline
Contact The Deaf Education Service via Supporting Learners 

# data[].attributes.subject
Contact The Deaf Education Service via Supporting Learners 

# data[].attributes.body
SupportingLearners@dumgal.gov.uk

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Deaf Awareness Week I National Deaf Children’s Society

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Celebrate Deaf Awareness Week (5 to 11 May 2025) with us and help make everyday life more deaf-friendly for children and young people.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Tips for teaching deaf children with a mild hearing loss

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
BSL British Sign Language and SSE Sign Supported English

# data[].attributes.headline
The ToD role is to share a depth of understanding of both the needs of deaf children and young people and how to meet them. 

# data[].attributes.subject
The ToD role is to share a depth of understanding of both the needs of deaf children and young people and how to meet them. 

# data[].attributes.body
A CSW is a deaf child’s ears - providing full access to the curriculum and aiding socialising with peers.

CSWs work from nursery right through to secondary.

A CSW translates what is spoken by teachers/other education staff as well as peers into BSL or Sign Supported English (depending on preferred choice) and in turn voices whatever a deaf child signs.

# data[].attributes.headline
PGDip Inclusive Learners (Deaf Education)

# data[].attributes.subject
PGDip Inclusive Learners (Deaf Education)

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
This specialist pathway is designed for teachers who wish to gain the competencies for qualified teachers of deaf children.

# data[].attributes.body
Deaf Roots and Pride Scotland