British Sign Language

At New College Lanarkshire (NCL) we are dedicated to supporting and assisting British Sign Language (BSL) applicants, students, staff, and visitors at our college campuses. If you are a BSL student at NCL, we are here to help you develop the skills required for your chosen career.

If your primary language is BSL, we have dedicated resources and support in place to assist you throughout your academic journey.

Our team of Communication Support Workers will be present in your classes at all times to provide the following services:

Interpretation services for both hearing learners and college staff
Accurate interpretation of all speech and sign language used in the classroom
Conversion of handouts into plain English or sign language as per your preference
Booking camera equipment for assessments to facilitate your learning needs
Providing explanations about the differences between D/deaf and hearing cultures to both learners and staff, as and when required

We are committed to providing an inclusive and supportive learning environment to all our students, and our Communication Support Workers are trained to provide you with the necessary assistance to help you achieve your academic goals.

Our commitment to you

At NCL we are committed to providing an inclusive and supportive learning environment to all our students.

BSL is a language in its own right, with its own grammar, syntax and vocabulary. It has its own dialects and rich variation. Most importantly, it is a language which enables many of our D/deaf and Deafblind citizens to learn, work, parent, be creative, live life to the full, and to make their contribution to our communities, our culture and our economy.

This British Sign Language (BSL) Plan, sets out the actions NCL will undertake during the period 2024-2029 to achieve the same long-term goals as the national plan, where these are relevant to the work of the College.

British Sign Language Plan 2024 - 2029

NCL students who use British Sign Language and are preparing to finish their course can receive financial support through the UK Government’s Access to Work (AtW) scheme.

AtW support covers a wide range of interventions beyond ‘reasonable adjustments’ associated with overcoming work-related barriers resulting from disability. The support package is agreed based on individual need.

A communicator, advocate or BSL interpreter for a job interview, if you’re D/deaf or have communication difficulties
A support worker, such as a reader for somebody with a visual impairment; communicator for a D/deaf person; a specialist job coach for a person with a learning difficulty; or a helper for personal care needs at work
Specialist equipment (or alterations to existing equipment) to suit your particular need.
Help towards the additional costs of taxi fares if you cannot use public transport to get to work
Support via Access to Work’s dedicated Workplace Mental Health Support Service (see below).

There is no set amount for an Access to Work grant. How much you get depends on your specific case. The grant will only cover the support needed to let you stay in work or self-employed.

Visit gov.uk/access-to-work for more information.

We have added some useful information and resources below which BSL users may find helpful.

Your success is our priority, and we're here to help you every step of the way. Get in touch today directly by using Contact Scotland BSL or via email.

Email us