Who is the Sign-a-Day Kit for?
It is for anyone who wants to use signs with the babies and young children. It is used by Teachers and Learning Assistants to embed the Signs for Success programme in schools, by Nursery Nurses to embed the programme in nursery settings – with a pack to lend to Parents - and by Childminders and Parents to embed the programme in the home.
It is also suitable for Health Visitors, Speech Therapists, Libraries, Nurses, Parent Support Workers etc., and a wide variety of organisations working with parents and young children.
How does the Kit work in settings?
One member of staff becomes the Signing co-ordinator and shares one-sign-a-day with work colleagues and parents who use that sign together with the spoken word in a wide range of curricula activities and normal every day routines. For further information read the Allenscroft Report and Spelling Research.
Many schools use the programme with children up to the age of 11 years throughout the curriculum (in maths, science, geography etc.,) Why not read the Spelling and Reading research which was carried out with children with additional needs aged 8 years?
How does the Kit help behaviour?
Through sign language children are encouraged to look, listen, think and learn. Noise and confusion in the classroom are replaced by peace and calm.
" Each morning the entire staff learned one sign or phrase from the Signing DVD then used it with children throughout the day. Within two weeks, the atmosphere of the whole school had changed … Unbelievable!"
-- Janet Raybould, Headteacher,
St.Clement’s Primary School
What about behaviour in the home?
In learning one behaviour sign a day and using it in activities and routines, parents expectations are made chrystal clear to the child. The child knows what is expected of them at any given time because they can see the expectation. This might be a “thank-you” after they receive something or a “please” if they want something." The behaviour management signs together with the philosophy espoused in the course helps me raise my child in a positive way, avoiding punishment, bribery and time out."
-- Sandra Valmary, mother
How does it help literacy?
In lots of tried and tested ways – but for example, the fingerspelling alphabet can be learned in less than an hour with the WOW Fingerspelling poster and book. Watch Melanie learning to read and spelling ‘alligator’ in seconds." We put up the WOW Fingerspelling poster and 1,000 children learned the alphabet overnight."
-- Bob Donnelly, Nechells Association for Community Education
How is the Kit different from the Signing Fun Activity Pack?
The Signing Fun Activity Pack has been designed for parents of the 0 – 3’s
The Sign-a-Day Kit is more comprehensive and provides curricula activities appropriate to the 0 – 5 age group as well as additional resource materials. It is recommended for early years practitioners and carers.
If you are a parent and want the Kit then please contact us as we have a Ten Steps to Success guideline for embedding the programme in the home and with extended family members.
As a parent, which programme would you recommend I buy?
It depends on the age of your child and the extent to which you want to engage with your child. Read the information on the programmes carefully then visit the Evidence pages where case studies, reviews and research will guide you as to which programme is the most suitable for you.
- The Signing Fun Activity Pack is a parent introduction to signing with your little one.
- The Sign-a-Day Kit is a comprehensive step-by-step programme for settings and homes
- The Signing With Babies and Young Children course is the complete programme for individuals with BTEC accreditation or a Signs for Success Diploma. Our students include parents, early years practitioners, linguists, Masters students, social workers, health visitors, librarians, Family Learning co-ordinators …
As a setting, which would you recommend I buy?
The Sign-a-Day Kit is perfect to roll out in settings and we would recommend buying an extra Kit to lend to parents or buying several Signing Fun Activity Packs to lend to parents. Ideally, each classroom should have their own Kit.
In addition to the Kit, the best way to lay down roots and ensure longevity of the programme in your settings is for members of staff to study the Signing with Babies and Young Children accredited course. We have up to 13 members of staff in settings on the course. A great individual CPD opportunity. Many go on to become SENCO’s, Early Years Professionals, Adult teachers, Family Learning Co-ordinators or to train with Portage.
Which children benefit from the Signs for Success methodology?
Hearing children, deaf children, children with additional needs and those for who English is an additional language. Signs for Success is truly inclusive; everyone benefits!