October 2024. We provided addition evidence to the Education, Children and Young People Committee at the Scottish Parliament, following our oral evidence to Committee on 2 October 2024.

We share the concerns of the National Deaf Children’s Society (NDCS) about the absence of recognition of the specific needs of BSL users and learners in the Education (Scotland) Bill and reiterate our call for them to recognised in the same way as Gaelic. We note from NDCS’s evidence that the two languages have similar numbers of users in Scotland and share specific legal recognition. This is line with the rights of Deaf children and other users of BSL under Article 30 of the UNCRC.

We therefore support the calls made by NCDS in their written evidence to the Committee and specifically:

“that the bill be amended to place similar specific requirements on the new bodies to be created by the bill around addressing the specific needs of those who use or wish to learn BSL in sections 7, 25, 34 and 49 of the bill.”[1]

[1] https://yourviews.parliament.scot/ecyp/education-scotland-bill-detailed/consultation/view_respondent?show_all_questions=0&sort=submitted&order=ascending&_q__text=deaf&uuId=44859531