Centre for Deaf Education Courses at City Lit
City Lit has provided support for deaf people at its heart right from our establishment, in 1919. Some of the first courses ever offered by City Lit were lipreading classes for deafened soldiers returning from World War I. Over the years, we have grown to become an internationally-renowned centre of a wide range of provision - it is the largest centre of its kind in Europe. Our staff is a mixed group of deaf and hearing professionals; all highly skilled in their own areas of specialist expertise. Learn British sign language with City Lit today.
In order to join our deaf English, maths and computing courses, you need to have an interview and initial assessment first.
As well as courses, we also offer support and services for deaf people.
- Lipreading taster sessionCourse start date: Fri 12 Dec 2025
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Daryl JoyceThis taster is suitable for total beginners and will give you an insight into how lipreading works and the opportunity to try out some fun exercises.
This course will be taught in spoken English and not in sign language.
See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.Full fee £19.00 Senior fee £19.00 Concession £19.00 - BSL level 2
Course start date: Mon 5 Jan 2026 (and 4 other dates)Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Susan WhalleyHave you passed your BSL level 1 and are you ready for a level 2 course? Build your skills and knowledge and achieve a level 2 qualification, accredited by Signature.Full fee £889.00 Senior fee £751.00 Concession £681.00 - English grammar for deaf people (entry 2) - part 2Course start date: Mon 5 Jan 2026 (and 1 other date)
Location on this date: Keeley Street
This course is suitable if you have enough vocabulary to be able to read and write basic sentences. During this course, you will learn more vocabulary and grammar to help you talk, read and write about yourself, your family and friends and complete forms, short sms and e-mails. This course has no exams.
This course is free for learners who have digital skills assessed as below level 1. For more information Click here
Full fee £0.00 - English entry 3 for deaf people - part 2Course start date: Mon 5 Jan 2026
Location on this date: Keeley Street
This course will help you get become confident in your everyday communication including reading and writing. We will focus on topics that interest you and use these to help you improve the key elements of reading and writing as well as communication skills to enable you to express your thoughts and feelings including in difficult situations. You will learn to how write whole sentences and paragraphs, use adjectives effectively, organise your writing, make notes and complete drafts, spell important common words, use punctuation correctly and develop reading and writing strategies most suited to you. And you will learn some digital skills including reading and finding information from websites.
This course is free for learners who have not achieved a GCSE grade C (4) and higher in English. For more information Click here
Full fee £0.00 - Maths for deaf people: Getting started with maths - (entry 1 - entry 2) - part 2Course start date: Tue 6 Jan 2026
Location on this date: Keeley Street
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This course is free for learners who have not achieved a GCSE grade C (4) and higher in Maths. For more information Click here
Full fee £0.00 - English for deaf people: Getting started with vocabulary - part 2 (pre-entry)Course start date: Wed 7 Jan 2026
Location on this date: Keeley Street
This course is suitable if you have recently arrived in the UK from abroad and/or missed out on the education at school due to communication barriers. This course will help you to develop your basic communication skills in various social settings such as starting, maintaining and ending the conversations, confirming your understanding of the conversation flow and/or ask for clarification if/when necessary, asking and answering questions on various social topics etc. You will develop your basic vocabulary linked to everyday life, spelling and punctuation.You will also develop basic study skills to help you to complete simple tasks and do homework on your own. This course has no exam. To be able to participate in this course, you will need to have basic BSL skills.
This course is free for learners who have not achieved a GCSE grade C (4) and higher in English. For more information Click here
Full fee £0.00 - BSL level 1 Course start date: Thu 8 Jan 2026 (and 3 other dates)
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Samuel GeorgesHave you always wanted to learn British Sign Language and communicate with Deaf people? Develop the skills you need to gain the level 1 BSL qualification, accredited by Signature. The fees for BSL level 1 courses include a year's subscription to Signworld.
You may wish to study BSL without the pressure of an exam, or just for fun. We can arrange for you to be taught without a formal final assessment and you will receive a certificate of attendance.Full fee £779.00 Senior fee £779.00 Concession £584.00 - Lipreading and managing hearing loss: beginners module 2 Course start date: Mon 12 Jan 2026 (and 4 other dates)
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Nicola HicksThis class is suitable for if you have completed module 1 or have completed the one term introduction to lipreading class or have attended a lipreading class at any level in the past, but want to go back to basics. You will develop your lipreading and fingerspelling skills and build your confidence.
This course will be taught in spoken English and not in sign language.
See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.Full fee £169.00 Senior fee £110.00 Concession £85.00 - Introduction to BSL Course start date: Mon 12 Jan 2026 (and 4 other dates)
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Antony RabinInterested in learning British Sign Language? Learn some basic vocabulary and grammar, and decide if you want to progress to the level 1 qualification.Full fee £289.00 Senior fee £289.00 Concession £202.00 - Lipreading and managing hearing loss: beginners module 1Course start date: Wed 14 Jan 2026 (and 4 other dates)
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Christine HathwayThis class is suitable for total beginners who have little or no experience of lipreading or who have completed a lipreading class at any level in the past, but want to go back to basics. You will learn how to recognise some sounds that are visible on the lips and how to use other tactics to support lipreading and how to manage hearing loss.
This course will be taught in spoken English and not in sign language.
See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.Full fee £169.00 Senior fee £169.00 Concession £85.00 - Lipreading and managing hearing loss: improvers module 2Course start date: Wed 14 Jan 2026 (and 1 other date)
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Judi PettmanDevelop your lipreading skills and strategies for face-to-face communication and keep up-to-date with relevant equipment and services. This course is suitable if you have completed improvers module 1.
This course will be taught in spoken English and not in sign language.Full fee £169.00 Senior fee £110.00 Concession £85.00 - Maths for deaf people: Deaf History Through Time: Understanding Timelines (Entry Level)Course start date: Fri 6 Feb 2026
Location on this date: Keeley Street
This course introduces learners to Deaf history, highlighting important dates, time periods, and events that have influenced the Deaf community. Learners will gain a basic understanding of key historical events and cultural achievements. They will also learn to identify dates, follow timelines, and connect these dates to important events in Deaf history.
This course is free for learners who have not achieved a GCSE grade C (4) and higher in Maths. For more information Click here
Full fee £0.00 - BSL intensive fingerspelling practiceCourse start date: Sat 7 Feb 2026
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Peter BrownAre you on a level 1 or 2 BSL course and would like to improve your ability to use and understand BSL fingerspelling? This workshop is taught by a highly experienced teacher and provides a perfect opportunity to focus on this particular area of BSL.Full fee £89.00 Senior fee £89.00 Concession £89.00 - Become more lipreadable Course start date: Fri 13 Feb 2026 (and 1 other date)
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Lorraine BragginsDo you know a hard of hearing or deaf person who needs to lipread you? Find out how lipreading works and how you can make some small adjustments in order to become more 'lipreadable'.
This course will be taught in spoken English and not in sign language.Full fee £59.00 Senior fee £59.00 Concession £59.00 - Level 3 BSL receptive skills practiceCourse start date: Sat 28 Feb 2026
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Emma IliffeAre you currently on a Level 3 course in BSL? If you need some guidance by an experienced teacher, this course will provide guidance and tips to help you develop strategies for how best to approach the level 3 receptive exam (Unit 321).Full fee £89.00 Senior fee £89.00 Concession £89.00
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