BSL Level 1 Signature Award in British Sign Language
Course at a glance
23rd Sept 2026 ● Wednesday evenings ● Rayleigh ● 28 Weeks
28 Weeks
Rayleigh
Wednesday Evenings
23rd September 2026
Learn British Sign Language (BSL) in a supportive classroom setting on Wednesday evenings in Rayleigh.
This 28-week BSL Level 1 course is perfect for people who want to build real communication skills, understand Deaf culture. By the end of the course achieve a nationally recognised qualification accredited by the leading exam board Signature.
Sign about your everyday life in BSL
Feel Confident to chat with a Deaf Person
Immerse yourself in the magic of Deaf culture
Sign about your everyday life in BSL
Feel confident to chat with a Deaf Person
Immerse yourself in the magic of Deaf culture
What You'll Learn
Go Beyond Memorising
Sign Away
What You'll Learn
Sign Away
Simple steps, supportive teaching to help you make progress from the very first session.
Go Beyond Memorising
Unlock the magic behind how BSL works, so you can sign naturally and adapt in real conversations beyond the classroom.
Confidence That Sticks
Grow at Your Own Pace
Confidence That Sticks
We keep learning clear and manageable, building your skills and confidence week by week.
Grow at Your Own Pace
Plenty of tailored practice, encouragement, and space to build strong foundations - whether you’re starting fresh or refreshing your basics.
With exams or just for fun… the choice is yours!
Practice videos and quizzes at your fingertips.
powered by Sign Away Express
powered by Sign Away Express
The Sign Away Experience
| Feature | Sign Away BSL | Traditional Course |
|---|---|---|
| Teachers |
✓
100% Deaf-led
|
✗
Non-Deaf instructors
|
| Course Delivery |
✓
In-person learning
|
✗
Online or hybrid
|
| Practice Support |
✓
Boost confidence with videos for every topic.
|
✗
Limited opportunities
|
| Learning Style |
✓
Interactive & engaging
|
✗
Passive
|
| Learning Resources |
✓
Custom games & materials
|
✗
Basic worksheets
|
| Fully Accredited |
✓
By Signature
|
✓
By Signature
|
100% Deaf Expert Tutors.
100% Deaf Expert Tutors.
The best in class resources so you learn what matters.
only at Sign Away BSL
This course is full. Join our waiting list
£450 upfront
5 monthly instalments of £85 + £50 reservation fee
Instalment plan comprises of £50 reservation fee paid today and five monthly instalments of £85. First instalment is due 1 month after booking.
Additional assessment fees of £108 payable in 2027 for those wishing to complete the external assessments.
Invoices for organisations available on request.
By booking you agree to our terms and conditions.
Course Structure
Unit 101
Learn the manual alphabet (fingerspelling) and basic numbers
Essential greetings and meeting people in everyday life
Asking and answering simple questions about yourself
Weather, transport and travel vocabulary
Giving and following simple directions
Unit 102
Expand your conversation skills and vocabulary
Practice describing people, places and objects
Dive into topics such as family, hobbies, interests, food and animals
Develop your sentence structure, facial grammar and spatial use
Unit 103
Apply language skills in every day contexts: including discussing shopping, socialising and education and work
Improve fluency and natural signing flow
Build confidence in real-world conversation
Assessments (Signature)
All assessment at BSL Level 1 is practical. There are no written exams. You’ll be assessed through signing tasks and signed conversation, and you’ll be fully prepared with mock assessments, guided practice, and tailored 1:1 support and feedback beforehand.
Signature is the leading exam board for British Sign Language (BSL), and BSL Level 1 is graded Pass / Fail.
Unit 101 (internally assessed)
Assessment format: a practical signed conversation completed with your tutor.
Retakes: because Unit 101 is internally assessed, you can take it as many times as needed until you achieve a pass so you can get your qualification off to a great start!
Unit 102
Assessment format: practical assessment based on a signed conversation one on one with your tutor.
Unit 103
Assessment format: practical assessment including a signed conversation one on one with your tutor.
Assessment fees
Assessment fees are £108 per candidate. This is the fee Signature charges Sign Away BSL. Assessment fees are updated annually so are subject to change. The fee is for the whole qualification.
Access arrangements
We can provide access arrangements where appropriate to support accessibility and ensure you can demonstrate your skills fairly. Please let us know as early as possible so we can discuss what you need and put arrangements in place.
Exam free options
If you’d prefer to focus on learning without being assessed, you’re welcome to take the course without exams. In this case, a Certificate of Attendance can be provided on completion.
Course Practicalities
Venue
The Mill Arts and Events Centre, Rayleigh
Bellingham Ln, Rayleigh SS6 7ED
Schedule
Wednesdays, 7:00-9:00pm
28 weeks (September 2026 - May 2027)
Session 1 takes place on 23rd September 2026
No sessions during school holidays
All course session dates will be provided in September 2026
All sessions are face to face
Parking
There are two public car parks adjacent to the venue - Bellingham Lane Car Park and Mill Hall Car Park. Typically free in the evening (after 7pm), so it should be free during your class time - please check onsite signage for any changes.
Accessibility
The venue has step free access via ramps and a lift. We pride our ourselves on the accessibility of our courses. If you have any accessibility queries please email daniel@signawaybsl.co.uk
Frequently Asked Questions
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Yes, your will become more confident across all topics, and you will also be introduced to new ones such as hobbies and interests.
For example, when we cover greetings in the first session, we will focus on new aspects like giving you a sign name which you can use in the Deaf Community.
The extra time will allow us to cover a wider breadth of content, so you can feel confident in a broader range of situations.
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You’ll receive an email with final details a couple of weeks before the course begins, plus information on how to access course communications and learning resources.
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This course is ideal if you:
Want to learn British Sign Language in Leigh on Sea or Essex
Work with or support Deaf people
Want to communicate with Deaf friends or family
Work in education, healthcare, customer service or support roles
Are interested in Deaf culture and inclusive communication
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Please contact us to discuss suitability
Is it for me?
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You will learn how to communicate in everyday situations using British Sign Language, including:
Introducing yourself and others
Talking about family, hobbies, food and daily life
Using numbers, time and directions
Understanding basic signed conversations
Using facial expressions and body language correctly
By the end of the course, you’ll be able to hold simple, confident conversations in BSL.
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Lessons are split into sections so it feels focused and manageable: quick recap/warm-up, new topic signs and how to use them, guided practice and games (pair/group), lots of real-life conversation activities, plus Q&A and feedback. We also include a short comfort break.
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Yes. You’ll be given practice videos and guidance to help you revise between classes and build confidence at your own pace.
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Like most accredited language courses, you’ll progress fastest with regular practice between lessons. Signature’s guidance includes additional study time alongside class time, so we recommend little-and-often practice each week using the topic videos/quizzes and short conversation tasks.
Learning
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Yes if you’d prefer to focus purely on learning, you can attend without exams and receive a Certificate of Attendance on completion.
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Yes. On successful completion, you will achieve a nationally recognised BSL Level 1 qualification awarded by Signature, the UK’s leading awarding body for British Sign Language.
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BSL Level 1 is assessed through practical signing tasks, not written exams.
Assessment is split into three units, each focusing on real communication skills.You will be assessed through:
Short signed conversations
Demonstrating understanding of signed information
Recorded or live practical assessments
Assessments are designed to feel natural and supportive, helping you show what you can do in BSL.
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There is no traditional written exam. All assessments are practical and communication-based, allowing you to demonstrate your signing skills in real-life scenarios.
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That’s completely normal - and we support you throughout.
You’ll practice assessment style activities regularly during lessons, so by the time your assessment arrives, it feels familiar and manageable. Tutors guide you through the process step by step.If a resit is needed for an externally assessed unit, we’ll explain the process and options and hold your hand through the process giving you a chance to shine!
Assesment
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You’ll receive an email with final details a couple of weeks before the course begins, plus information on how to access course communications and learning resources.
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Wednesdays, 7:00- 9:00pm, starting 23rd September 2026, running for 28 weeks (no sessions during school holidays or bank holidays).
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The Mill Arts and Events Centre, Bellingham Lane, Rayleigh, SS6 7ED
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There are two public car parks adjacent to the venue - Bellingham Lane Car Park and Mill Hall Car Park. Typically free in the evening (after 7pm), so it should be free during your class time - please check onsite signage for any changes.
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Yes step-free access is available via ramps and a lift.
We pride ourselves on the accessibility of our courses. If you have any specific questions please email daniel@signawaybsl.co.uk
Practicalities
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Please see the Course Booking Policy (Terms & Conditions)
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Yes, invoices for employers to pay on your behalf are available. Please email daniel@signawaybsl.co.uk to request an invoice for this course.
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To reserve your place, you pay £50 today. The remaining balance is then paid via Direct Debit in 5 monthly instalments of £85. We’ll confirm the Direct Debit set-up and your payment dates in your booking confirmation email.
Payments
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