Last week, the whole school took part in British Sign Language Week, learning about the importance of inclusive communication and the experiences of the deaf community.
As part of this Year 5 took part in a powerful lesson led by Miss Swales and Mr Gordon, delivered entirely in silence – just as it would be for a deaf child.
Without using sound, we quickly realised how challenging it can be to:
- Convey true meaning without hearing tone or voice.
- Ask questions clearly when we couldn’t speak.
- Cope with the frustration of misunderstanding instructions – one child completed their task incorrectly and found it difficult to communicate their confusion.
This experience truly opened our eyes to the daily challenges faced by people who are deaf. British Sign Language Week has helped us all develop a deeper empathy and appreciation for the importance of accessible communication.