Policy paper

British Sign Language 5-year plan: Department for Transport – 1-year update, July 2026 (English and BSL versions)

Updated 15 July 2026

Applies to England, Scotland and Wales

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JgAAjoC7TII

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DfT’s British Sign Language (BSL) Action Plan was published on 21 July 2025, setting out actions to improve accessible communications for BSL users over 5 years.

Progress and impact in the last 12 months

Below is a summary of progress in year one.

1) Increase BSL output

DfT produced 24 pieces of BSL communications in the 2025 to 2026 reporting year, compared to 6 the previous year – a fourfold increase. This includes 16 publications and 8 social media posts covering major announcements such as the Road Safety Strategy, Railways Bill, and Better Connected strategy. A Sign Language Week video in March 2026 received 9,600 views, with 67% of Instagram views from non-followers.

2) Grow and strengthen the BSL working group

The working group has now been expanded, ensuring coverage across the Communications Directorate and more consistency in delivery. We are working to expand membership beyond the communications function. 

3) Evaluate progress regularly

Progress is tracked through weekly meetings and annual reporting on volume of BSL content published, alongside social media engagement data.

4) Update the department on obligations under the BSL Act

We are developing a new BSL translation framework, which will expand what we translate – including executive summaries of consultations and strategies. We will develop and implement this, then update all staff through the intranet and team meetings.

5) Deliver teach-ins led by working group leads

Training has been offered within the department. A more systematic level of training is being considered. 

6) Require arm’s length bodies to feed BSL updates into the working group

Following further teach-ins and implementation of the new framework, we will establish processes for arm’s length bodies to feed in BSL content updates, ensuring consistency across DfT and its agencies.

7) Embed BSL consideration into communications planning at the earliest stage

BSL is now considered early in handling plan development, ensuring content is produced and published as close to the main announcement as possible.

The significant increase in BSL output – reaching 24 pieces in 2025-26 against a trajectory of gradual growth – represents faster-than-anticipated progress on the commitment to progressively increase BSL communications. 

Priorities for the next 12 months

Priorities for the next 12 months include:

• sustaining this positive momentum
• adopting a new framework to improve consistency across the department
• delivering a staff-wide update on BSL Act obligations through the intranet and team huddles
• extending teach-ins to a wider range of teams within DfT and its arm’s length bodies
• establishing a formal process for arm’s length bodies to feed BSL activity updates into the working group, ensuring a consistent and complete picture of BSL communications across DfT and its agencies
• continuing to embed BSL consideration at the earliest stage of communications planning, building on the progress made this year in ensuring content is published as close as possible to the main announcement

There are no proposed changes to the overall direction of the 5-year plan at this stage.