The language and communication policy, in Doncaster School for the Deaf, is based on a philosophy which aims to provide the children with a sound foundation in one language in order to acquire the second language and to enable learning at an age-appropriate level.
The bilingual philosophy recognises the equal status of British Sign Language (BSL) and English (BSL was recognised by the UK Government in March 2003, as being a full language in its own right). The bilingual philosophy focuses on the enrichment of two languages, while teaching the curriculum through the child's preferred language, aiming not only to achieve high standards of education, but also to develop a positive self image, self esteem and self respect among the pupils.
In recognition of this policy, we, as a school, ensure that any potential blocks to communication are minimised to enable equal access to all activities for all members of the school community, in either BSL or English.
In order to work towards our goal as a fully inclusive environment, we recognise that we need, as a school community, to implement all parts of this policy in a consistent way. This means that we prioritise the building of strong working partnerships between deaf and hearing people throughout the school.
We firmly believe that effective communication across the school is vital to ensure a harmonious and inclusive society for the benefit of all.
We expect every member of the school community to be positive bilingual role models. The aim of this approach is to improve the quality of communication in the school, leading to a more supportive, social and learning environment, encouraging high standards and expectations within the school, and ultimately leading to a more positive self image and higher achievement across the school.
