A LOCALMP is calling on the Government to introduce a national programme of British Sign Language classes for parents of deaf children.
Jen Craft MP, Member of Parliament for Thurrock, who uses sign at home with her disabled daughter, will lead a debate celebrating Sign Language Week on Thursday (20 March), with support from the British Deaf Association.
As Chair of the newly-formed APPG on British Sign Language, Mrs Craft will use sign language in her speech as a signal of inclusivity to the 87,000 members of the deaf signing community in the UK – becoming the first MP to do so in this Parliament.
The debate will also feature live sign language interpretation of proceedings on the floor of the Westminster Hall chamber, with simultaneous interpretation on the broadcast feed, for the first time ever in Parliament.
In her speech, Mrs Craft will call on the Government to tackle the “postcode lottery” of British Sign Language support in England, that currently sees deaf children and their families unable to access sign language from an early age.
Almost half (43%) of local authorities neither provide, fund, nor commission any courses in sign language to families, while estimates suggest the availability of courses has fallen by 34% from pre-pandemic levels in certain areas.
With 90% of deaf children born to hearing parents, this lack of access risks causing a form of ‘language deprivation’ – which has been shown to have life-long consequences on development.
On average, deaf children experience poorer educational outcomes, with research finding that deaf children were almost a year and a half (17.5 months) behind their classmates by the time they sit their GCSEs.
Mrs Craft will also ask the Government to provide a timeline for the delivery of the long-promised British Sign Language GCSE. This has been reportedly delayed beyond the September 2025 deadline.
Jen Craft MP, Member of Parliament for Thurrock, said:
“British Sign Language provides a valuable connection for thousands of families across the country, including my own. As the mum of a daughter with hearing loss, it’s a special moment to lead this groundbreaking debate.
“For too long, the needs and interests of the deaf signing community have been an afterthought.
“The Government must continue driving progress in putting the deaf community at the heart of policymaking, and on an equal footing with the rest of society.
“Particularly, we need to see a commitment to a national programme of British Sign Language classes to end the postcode lottery of support that is damaging the life chances of deaf children.”
Tom Lichy, Head of Policy & Research at the British Deaf Association, said:
“We are very grateful to Jen Craft MP for her strong commitment to the deaf signing community across the country.
“British Sign Language is more than a language – it is a culture and a community and we are delighted that our ambitions for our community and for future generations of deaf children are being raised in the House of Commons.”
