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<p>The government understands the great importance of British Sign Language (BSL)
for bridging barriers to communication between hearing and deaf people. The department
appreciates the vital need for families with deaf children to be able to access BSL
courses, as early access to language is essential to help children learn and thrive.</p><p>Funding
is available through the adult education budget (AEB) for qualifications in or focussing
on BSL up to and including level 2. These qualifications include, for example, the
Level 1 Award in BSL, which allows learners to communicate in BSL on a range of topics
that involve simple, everyday language use, thereby giving them the basic skills and
confidence in production and reception of BSL. It will depend on an individual’s circumstances
as to whether they are entitled to free provision or expected to meet part of the
cost, through co-funding.</p><p>For some BSL courses, advanced learner loans (ALLs)
are available, and parents can find more information about which qualifications are
eligible at: <a href="https://www.qualifications.education.gov.uk/Search" target="_blank">https://www.qualifications.education.gov.uk/Search</a>.
More general information about the provision of ALLs is available at: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/advanced-learner-loan"
target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/advanced-learner-loan</a>.</p><p>For parents learning
BSL on an AEB-funded course, there is also additional support available. The AEB provides
funding to colleges and providers to help adult learners overcome barriers preventing
them from accessing learning. Providers have discretion to help learners meet costs
such as transport, accommodation, books, equipment, and childcare. Learning support
funding also helps colleges and training providers to meet the additional needs of
learners with learning difficulties and/or disabilities and the costs of reasonable
adjustments, as set out in the Equality Act 2010.</p><p>About 60% of the AEB has been
devolved to nine Mayoral Combined Authorities and the Mayor of London, acting where
appropriate through the Greater London Authority. These authorities determine which
provision to fund for learners who live in their areas. The Education and Skills Funding
Agency provides the remaining funding for learners who live in non-devolved areas.
It is up to providers to decide what provision they offer. Where community learning
providers offer BSL courses, those providers are responsible for determining the course
fees, including levels of fee remission.</p>
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