Testimonials
Schools / Colleges
Schools
Organisations
HMP
CACDP Courses
Shuttleworth College, Burnley
I would recommend School of Sign Language to other schools, as it is value for money and a wonderful life skill for communicating.
Sir John Thursby Community College, Burnley
Jane Young , Inclusion Leader
"We have now had approximately 24 students who have completed their Level 1 Sign Language course.
Staff have been excellent and professional
We hope to use them again in the next academic year."
St Anne's and St Joseph's R.C. Primary School, Accrington
Ann Marie Robinson, After School Co-ordinator:
"Our very first experience of the Sign Language team was a very inspiring assembly. This prompted us to hold an after school Sign Language club run by Debbie and her colleagues. Parents and children and teachers all learnt new skills and had great fun! It was a wonderful experience and the team are very professional, reliable and excellent value for money. I will be hoping to offer another sign language course in the near future and would recommend School of Sign Language to other colleagues."
Bishop Rawstorne C of E Language College, Croston, Leyland
Belthorn Primary School, Blackburn
Cardinal Newman College, Preston
St Francis C of E Primary School, Cherry Tree, Blackburn
Sharon Thomas, Headteacher:
"An excellent, professionally run after school club which was thoroughly enjoyed by all who attended. Many students signed up for the second stage course and have developed their sign language well. The club even produced their own assembly for the rest of the school and the staff from the School of Sign Language taught them our school hymn which they signed during the assembly. Wonderful."
St Edward's R. C. Primary School, Darwen
Alyson Grundy, Headteacher: "Having discussed the Sign Language course with a parent who attended the whole course, the adults who delivered the course were very professional and we did receive a very reliable service. Everyone who attended really enjoyed the course.
There is no doubt that we would definitely set up another Sign Language course in the future and recommend School of Sign Language to other schools and organisations. The course was definitely value for money, a very rewarding experience".
St Paul's R. C. Primary School, Feniscowles, Blackburn
Mrs. Rushton, Headteacher: "The School of Sign Language provided a very reliable service. The children thoroughly enjoyed the sessions and we will definitely be repeating the course in the future".
St Stephen's C of E Primary School, Tockholes, Blackburn
Mrs. Barbara Cocker, Headteacher: The courses run at St. Stephen's School, Tockholes were enjoyed by children and parents alike. All learned to communicate using sign language quickly and in a fun way. I would recommend School of Sign Language to other schools".
St Gabriels School R. C. High School, Bury
Comments from Teachers and Students:
Jayne Roberts: "Fantastic course! The Deaf Awareness was very interesting and useful to use with pupils. I feel more confident in trying to sign and use sign in everyday life! I was so pleased to be able to communicate with my son! Thankyou!
Nicola Latham: "Enjoyed the course. I enjoyed learning something new without being under any pressure. I will try and use it when I can. Thank you!"
Helen Greenhalgh: "Have really enjoyed the course. It’s been a good way to learn in a non-threatening environment. Would definitely recommend it."
Sally-Anne Ganley: "Thankyou very much, a very interesting and exciting course. I have really enjoyed every minute.
"Really interesting! I want to learn more. I have found it fascinating and would like to use more sign language so I don't forget it."
"I have really enjoyed the course. Would like to learn more. Found your staff very patient and helpful and amusing."
"We have really enjoyed the course. We were very nervous at first but everyone soon relaxed and had fun. Having a Deaf Tutor made it realistic and more enjoyable. We can't believe we can now manage a simple conversation!".
Organisations
Mill Hill Youth Inclusion Programme (Y.I.P), Blackburn
Vicky Quirk, Y.I.P. Interventions Worker : "Mill Hill Youth Inclusion Programme (Y.I.P.) is a targeted youth programme focusing on the most "at risk" young people, aged between 8 and 16 years. It is therefore often challenging in nature when working with such vulnerable and disaffected young people. School of Sign Language certainly rose to the challenge, taking every session in their stride!
All the staff had a real child friendly attitude, helping to engage even the most hard to reach young person. The sessions were fun, with appropriate activities to differentiate between levels of learning. This was an excellent course to teach the young people about other ways to communicate, rather than shouting! Most importantly, this enabled disaffected young people to sign language and improve Deaf awareness. Many thanks from the Y.I.P. ".
District Explorer Scouts, Chorley
Ben & Tom: "We thought the course was educational, inspiring and nice, we would love to do it again"
Katie & Will: "A great course and loads of fun! We would definately do it again and hope we get the opportunity"
Mark: "This course has given me the knowledge of sign language, I believe I would need to converse with a Deaf or Hard of Hearing person. Every subject we studied could be a common component of any conversation which I would engage in with people".
St Mary's Church Group, Penwortham, Preston
Suzanna Aspinwall: "Good fun course - Enjoyable and very relaxed"
Maureen Aspinwall: "Excellent, patient and understanding on the Tutor's part. Very helpful, extremely interesting and informative. Nothing has been too much trouble for the Tutor. Very happy to continue."
Richard Whittaker: "This has been a fun way to learn. Made my Tuesdays!"
David Camthens: "Very enjoyable and well paced."
Magaret Strong and Tony Strong: "We are very much enjoying the course and find it interesting. Some parts we find more difficult than others, but hope to master the difficult ones."
Julie Harrison: "An enjoyed course. Sometimes fast moving, but all Teachers are very obliging and repeat anything."
Matt: "I found the course to be a lot of fun and the Tutor was really good at teaching the different signs."
Catherine: "Nice relaxed atmosphere, enabled us to gain confidence in using sign language, really enjoyable."
Zareena: "A truly enjoyable and fun course taught in a very laid back manner. Definitely a worthwhile experience."
Basane Snown: "Through step by step approach with plenty of reason."
Ruth Whittaker: "Fun and exiting."
Muriel Laws: "I have found this course to be very interesting and a fun way to learn. Definitely looking forward to the next course!"
Sue Whitehead: "I've really enjoyed the sessions. Good format. The sessions are fun and informal."
Royal Mail Sorting Office, Burnley and Blackburn
Jack Bell, Manager: "I found that the course was very informative and was carried out in a very professional manner. We also use SOSL on a regular weekly basis, covering my presentation of team briefs. Although they are carried out early in the morning, your representative, Lucy is always on time with a pleasant manner. I would recommend your service to others not only for the resume team briefs, but also for the Sign Stage 1 course which we have just completed. Thank you!"
CACDP BSL Level 1 Course
Schools
Organisations
HMP
CACDP Courses
Venue :- Redeemer Church, Jack Walker Way, Blackburn
Tutor :- Beverley Davies
CACDP BSL Level 1 Course
Venue :- Oakenhurst Farm Premier Travel Inn, Riversway Drive, Lower Darwen
Tutor :- Beverley Davies
Rachel Whitehead: "Really glad that I began the course. Bev has been amazing! She has such a nice personality and is a really nice person to work with. I have really enjoyed the course. Would definitely like to take it further especially with Bev.”
Natalie Lyon: "Bev is a fantastic Tutor. A brilliant, intensive and productive course, I would definitely recommend it.”
Julie Preston: "Fully enjoyed the course, Bev has been a brilliant Teacher and I wish her all the best in her Level 3 so she can teach me Level 2. Ha! Ha!”
Anne Webster: “Bev has a great way of explaining things and makes the course fun and interesting. I would recommend it to anyone.”
Donna Fisher: "Bev is the best! Had a brilliant time, thanks.”
Claire Whitehead: "Very interesting and worthwhile course. I would definitely recommend this to others. Fantastic Tutor.”
Mandy Whitehead: "What a way to spend Monday nights! Its been wonderful, extreamly hard but so rewarding. A wonderful Tutor - patient, caring smiley disposition. Thank you x.”
Lisa McDonagh: "Very enjoyable and worthwhile course. Bev is a brilliant Teacher would definitely recommend toanyone.”
Barbara Parker : "Very interesting but intensive course .”
CACDP BSL Level 1 Course
Venue :- Oakenhurst Farm Premier Travel Inn, Riversway Drive, Lower Darwen
Tutor :- Beverley Davies
Andrew Gallimore “School of Sign Language makes learning exciting and the course is short enough to fit into a busy life. Thank you.“School of Sign Language is an exciting way to communicate all on the same level between Deaf and hearing.”
“Thoroughly enjoyed the course. A great way to learn to communicate between both sets of the community.”
“I found the course very enjoyable and useful, a great help in bridging the gap between the Deaf and hearing”
“I have enjoyed the course very much. Bev is a great Teacher. I feel it is very important for more hearing people to learn how to sign so it will enable better communication with the Deaf. It is a valuable life skill.”
HMP
Schools
Organisations
HMP
CACDP Courses
Preston Prison - 1st Course
James: "This course has been really interesting. The interaction between course providers and trainees was phenomenal. Really enjoyed the course, can't wait to further my training".
John: "I think this course was really interesting and aswell as learning alot, I've had a lot of fun".
Damian: "Excellent course, interesting and enjoyable, more people should learn how to communicate with people with hearing difficulties, speech communication is the way forward. Breaking down barriers!".
Paul: "I've really enjoyed this course I've learnt alot, I think there should be a lot more courses like this in prison, thanks".
Joseph: "This course has been very informative, interesting and fun to learn. It has broken down a barrier which I now hope to carry on to others so we can all communicate".
Seb: "A truly excellent course which was run by fabulous staff which made the learning of sign language that much easier. A course for anyone and everyone. Many thanks to Bev and Mary!".
Andy: "The course is excellent it should be done in all Prisons. I think the full course should be available to us all. Thanks Mary and Bev!".
Preston Prison - 2nd Course
Jonathan: "I have thoroughly enjoyed the whole course, it has helped me make friends and we have been able to sign on the Wing. It would be a benefit to any prisoner and essential for those with Deaf relatives or friends. I think I would be able to have a conversation or assist a Deaf person now".
Mark: "This is an excellent way to meet new people and also communicate through sign, I thought it would be very hard to learn with the speed you see Deaf people communicate. The course is very good, the Teachers, Mary who translates and Bev who is Deaf with no language are very clear and I also have my own son who is Deaf with no speech. I couldn't speak a word in sign but within 4 weeks just 3 days a week, I can now communicate with my own son, so all you people who are frightened thinking its too complicated, WRONG, it is very straight forward learning the basics, from then on its just putting it all together and keep on going. It is a very interesting and enjoyable way of life, I myself will keep on learning. It will take time but I now want to learn to Interpret and instruct myself as just to think how lost and alone Deaf people are out there in society with more people learning and understanding their way of life! We can all benefit".
Trevor: "Friendly and caring Tutor's made this course a complete pleasure, I could have done with more time but enjoyed the time I had, learning quite a bit in the time allowed. Thank you".
Jay: "A really enjoyable course. I've never done anything like this in Prison before and it has been a real eye opener. The Tutors were friendly and helpful and my thoughts are that there should be a lot more sign language in British jails. Thanks go to Mary and Bev for taking the time to learn us something so productive. Thanks".
Wayne: "When I first started I was a bit nervous, but soon got over my fear and as each day went by the course got better and more exciting. I was able to take a lot on board and find it very easy to learn. I also found it very educational and think that more people should learn sign as it is very essential to helping other people. The staff Bev and Mary are very passionate at their job and make it easy for people to pick it up. Thank you especially to Bev and Mary".
Kev: "From day one the Group 'n' Tutors have been excellent. Everyone has pulled together 'n' helped each other. Out of 12 that was here to start, 3 have left due to transfers etc., but the remaining 9 of us have been great. Really enjoyed it. Thanks to Mary 'n' Bev."
John: "Class was very interesting. I learnt a lot of new signs which will be very useful as my Brother is Deaf. The Teachers were very patient and helpful when teaching. Good course".
Wes:"I really enjoyed this course. Think this course should be brought into every jail because it is so interesting and think everyone would like to learn, even Officers would enjoy it".
Andy: "It is worth doing and it is something that could be transferred to when you are on the out also with people who have family members who are Deaf."
Preston Prison - 3rd Course
Ian: "The BSL course is a really good thing to learn, even if you do not need to know BSL, it is a good feeling knowing something different. I was a little nervous at first because I didn't know anything about BSL or Deaf people. I have learnt to understand Deaf people alot more now and feel more confident in myself, knowing I can speak to Deaf people a little more if I ever need to. I would like to look into future advanced courses of BSL and want to increase my knowledge of BSL ."
Antonin: "I feel I have learnt a new skill. The class and Tutors were brilliant. I will now be able to communicate with Deaf people. I would recommend this course to all inmates."
'Titch': "I feel that the course was good, but not long enough, because there is a lot more I would have liked to have learnt."
Mohammed: "A great class, I would recommend it to everyone so people are aware of Deaf people and how to interact with them. Fantastic course, could have been a bit longer. Tutors were great, nice and relaxed class."
Preston Prison - 4th Course
Peter: "The course has been brilliant. I recommend everyone to do it. It's well worth it. The Tutors Mary and Bev are very nice and you can tell they enjoy teaching us Sign Language. I'll carry on when I am released".
Vince: "Sign hands makes happy faces. Think everyone should try it, I've got a lot from being on the course wish I could do the next levels after this one has finished as would be a shame not to after Level 1. Thank you lots ladies".
Darren: "I would recommend Sign Language to be taught at School as it's a very important learning Skill, it's a very interesting and worthwhile skill to have, you never know when you might need to use it, the Tutors are brilliant and I would like to keep in touch and hopefully learn more. Thank you for the experience. "
Nazeem: "It's been a good course, I have learnt the alphabet and a few good times. Everyone should do this course. Have made new friends. I am very very happy."
Nasar: "I like this class very much. Not long enough need longer time. Difficult to learn Deaf language in 4 weeks. I have really enjoyed this class and learnt a lot from it."
Zameer: "I really like this class and want to say thankyou to Bev & Mary. I want to carry on learning, wish it was a longer course as I enjoy it very much."
Sajid: "I think it is a great language and have really enjoyed it. More people should learn. Thankyou to Bev and Mary for teaching. I like you very much, like friends."
George: "I wish that all Prisons would do this course it would help many people learn and be able to talk to Deaf people."
David: "Good laugh, excellent course. More prison's should do the course and this would help people understand the Deaf language BSL and would help if the course was for longer."
Preston Prison - 5th Course
David: "I've really enjoyed the course. Over the 5 weeks I have done this course I have built up a lot of confidence and now I know I can do basic sign language to a Deaf person."
Ronald: "Course has gone very well. Had a lot of fun, it was worth doing. Thanks for you time it was good of you both. Thanks."
Pete: "Enjoyed the course over the last 5 weeks. Enjoyed working with a Deaf person and now it will help me outside to be able to sign to Deaf people. Mary & Bev are good Teachers & learnt a lot. Thank you both. Good experience to learn. Makes you open your eyes to see what Deaf people go through."
Alex: "To be very honest, I was very unsure about the sign language course at first. But that didn't last long when we got to know both Bev and Mary and the rest of the gang at the 'School of Sign Language'. With both encouragement and patience, the team of girls turned us into a group that could quite competently hold a conversation with a Deaf person.
I'm just sorry now that the course has come to an end! I would encourage anybody to take a course in Sign Language."
Paul: "This has been an extremely entertaining and worthwhile course. It is recommended to anyone for learning. The Tutors were excellent and very supportive plus a lot of patience. This has been a great experience for me and I have enjoyed it very much. I would welcome the next stage in B.S.L to be taught here. Thank you to Bev, Mary and Debbie."
Paul: "Really good course, there is not enough people doing sign language. I would encourage people to give it a go, as it is really good fun and very enjoyable."
Martin: "BSL has helped me to understand more about Deaf people. The 5 weeks course was excellent and Mary, Bev and all the staff at School of Sign Language. I give full respect for the job they do."
Nigel: "Breaking down Barriers is what I have learned most of all, an avenue of an interesting learning experience I thought I would never need. My Tutors Bev and Mary have been extremely helpful and fun to learn with, thank you to them both for an enjoyable course."
Michael: "Great course should be longer really enjoyed it. This should be taught in school and made compulsory to learn as so many Deaf people in the country."
Toby: "I really enjoyed the course, found it enlisting and the instructors well great. I really hope they allow the advance class so that I can have a full conversation without worry. Thanks, keep up the good work Bev & Mary."
Paul: "I am really enjoying the course I found it quite easy to pick up and also a very enjoyable course. Thankyou so much."
Michael: "A really brilliant confidence building course. I thoroughly enjoyed it, I picked it up easily. I really enjoyed myself and it makes you aware of how difficult it is for a Deaf person to talk to a hearing person. I enjoyed the whole course & would recommend it to anyone. Thanks and keep up the excellent work Bev & Mary and Bernie."
Preston Prison - 6th Course
Fitz: "Found the course useful, informative and very interesting. The Tutors made it interesting to learn, funny and easy. If your thinking of taking the course do cos it's worth it! If everyone learned a bit of Sign Language, society would be a better place and a minority group wouldn't feel such a minority."
Andy: "Learning Sign Language is easy enough, I thought it would be hard but it's not its good fun and very useful. I have met Deaf people before and always wondered what it would be like to be able to communicate with them, now I can and it's great. I would recommend learning it to everyone who is interested."
Jason: "It is good learning Sign Language."
Lee: "It is good to learn sign language. I recommend people to learn sign language as it is fun to learn and because it would help if I bump into a Deaf person, I would then be able to communicate with them. Really enjoyed it."
Joe: "Very good lessons, easy to learn but also fun at same time all Tutors are great. Would recommend to anyone can't wait to try next Level."
James: "This is a course well worth doing, it is very interesting and enjoyable to learn. I found the Tutors very helpful and fun to work with which I feel made the course alot better and gave more incentive to learn. I hope to continue learning sign language in the near future and one day be fluent with it as this could create many opportunities in life for myself. Once again I would like to thank the School of Sign Language for everything they have done for us."
Preston Prison 7th course
Jim : "Good to be able to learn the awareness and be able to communicate with Deaf people. It's a thing kids should learn and be more aware of in school and the general public, really enjoyable. Thanks.Vince : "One of the most enjoyable courses you will ever do in your life. The Tutors are great and always bring a smile to your day. If you get the opportunity to take part take it without hesitation. It is a big confidence builder and opens doors to a different kind of communication!"
Andrew : "I think the Teachers were excellent. I learnt alot. It was very helpful. I wish there were more courses like it. I was satisfied with what I have learnt. Want to say thankyou to Bev, Mary, Debbie and Bernie. It was great to be able to communicate with Bev with her being Deaf."
James : "The course was great. It gave me a great insight into Deaf Awareness. I learnt a great deal with the relaxed teaching attitude of Bev, Mary, Debbie and Bernie. Thanks very much."
Martyn : "The course I found was very interesting and I learnt alot. The course challenged me intellectually and game me more of a insight into Deaf Awareness."
Paul : "I thought the course was excellent, had great fun learning. I think its a subject that should be taught in school's from an early age. I was appalled to find out just how many Translators there are to how many Deaf people there are. The government should recognise this and introduce BSL to the school curriculm. I'm going to keep on learning. I will miss you Bev, Mary, Debbie and Bernie."
Wayne : " Coming to sign language has opened my eyes to something new and that it's quite straight forward and found the teachers very passionate in the way they teach you and help you understand sign in such a way that it's easy to learn. I have loved being here and loved learning. Thank you very very much Bev, Mary, Debbie and Bernie."
Jason : "When I started the course, I was a bit worried that I wouldn't be able to pick up on how to do Sign Language due to having an hyperactive disorder and mental problems but to my suprise I soon within 2 lessons found I could do it quite easily. The lesson's were fun and the teachers were patient and understanding. Overall, brilliant sense of humour and we all enjoyed and looked forward to each lesson."
