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<p>This Department funds British Sign Language (BSL) qualifications in England through
the Adult Education Budget (AEB). In the current economic climate, our funding must
be focussed where it can have the most impact, so we support young adults aged 19
and over to gain the skills and qualifications they need to get work or to progress
in their chosen career.</p><p> </p><p>Learners who need lip reading skills to access
work or stay in work are eligible to receive public funding through the Skills Funding
Agency, and we are introducing changes that will make BSL qualifications acceptable,
for the purposes of apprenticeship completion requirements, as an alternative to Functional
Skills English for apprentices whose first language is BSL.</p><p> </p><p>Colleges
and training providers are independent and autonomous bodies and are responsible for
their course provision. They are required to respond to the needs of learners, employers
and communities to ensure that provision meets the need of local people, and we would
expect every college or training organisation that receives public investment to consider
offering lip-reading and sign language provision if there is a demand for it locally.
Our more flexible adult education budget funding rules for 2016/17 enable broader
types of learning activities that re-engage people in learning, build confidence,
and enhance well-being.</p>
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