One-year-old Raphael rests his head on his hands and nursery nurse Aga instantly knows he wants a nap. Raphael's grasp of early sign language means he is better able to communicate his needs to adults around him.
He has been learning to sign since joining the bilingual 0-2s centre at Frank Barnes School for Deaf Children in Camden, London (see box). The children who attend the centre are both hearing and deaf, experiencing care in the bilingual environment of English and British Sign Language (BSL).
The inclusive nature of the setting has proved very successful for children, often producing advanced communication skills for their age.
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