Teaching professionals can order a Fingerspellathon pack from NDCS which includes a CD full of resources, including a publicity poster, tips on teaching finger-spelling, and curriculum-based guidelines on how to include the spellathon in lessons. The school which raises the most money per pupil will win a Deafinitely Theatre workshop for their school.

Alison Burrell, NDCS Schools Officer, explains: “Because three babies are born deaf every day and 80 per cent of deaf children are educated in a mainstream school it is really important that their peers are aware of the issues that deaf children can face. As well as being great fun, the NDCS Fingerspellathon is a simple way to raise deaf awareness in schools, and to enable non-signing children to learn about British Sign Language. Not only that, but they will be raising vital funds for deaf children in the UK through sponsorship.

“NDCS is the national charity dedicated to creating a world without barriers for deaf children and young people, and is funded almost entirely through public donations. None of our work would be possible without the commitment of our fundraisers, so we urge schools across the country to take on the NDCS Fingerspellathon and help us to continue our work.”

There are 35,000 deaf children in the UK and 90% are born to hearing parents with little or no experience of deafness. NDCS provides practical support and impartial information to families with deaf children on all aspects of childhood deafness.

To order a NDCS Fingerspellathon pack please contact Alison Burrell. To find out about more ways to fundraise for NDCS, visit the website www.ndcs.org.uk/schools.