celebrate the that the gcse will celebrate the rich history and culture of british sign language. she also said that she is delighted that the course content has been published after ten years of campaigning. now, the british deaf association estimates that around 151,000 people in the uk use bsl, a british sign language, and 87,000 of those people are deaf themselves. but an adult education couege themselves. but an adult education college that teaches bsl did a survey in 2019, and that found that 94% of brits do not feel confident that they no more than two words in bsl. if i take myself as an example, the only thing i know how to say is hello, my name is rachel. i hope that was ok. bsl was officially recognised as a language in the uk last year, after the british sign baggage act was passed on the government for said it would consider introducing a gcse in bsl after a campaign by 17—year—old

danieljennings. daniel is profoundly deaf and began campaigning for the gcse when he was 12 years old. now, it is too late for daniel to take advantage of the gcse, but he says that it is a powerful step towards equality. he hopes that it will make deaf students feel less isolated in schools. in wales, work was already under way to introduce a gcse in bsl, and students will be able to start studying the subject from september 2026. start studying the subject from september2026. but start studying the subject from september 2026. but the big question for schools is how they recruit and retain teachers qualified in bsl in order to deliver this course to students. rachel mcadams reporting there. danieljillings who was included in that report, along with his mother annjoin me now. and will be signing for daniel during this interview. thank you both forjoining us. let's speak to you, and back, first. how are you feeling about today's announcement

as a parent? i feeling about today's announcement as a parent?— feeling about today's announcement as a parent? i am delighted. i am so roud of as a parent? i am delighted. i am so proud of daniel, _ as a parent? i am delighted. i am so proud of daniel, but _ as a parent? i am delighted. i am so proud of daniel, but also _ as a parent? i am delighted. i am so proud of daniel, but also so - proud of daniel, but also so gratefulfor proud of daniel, but also so grateful for all the people who have been involved in this work, in developing the new qualification. it is going to make a huge impact on deaf children because so many to mainstream school and maybe they are the only deaf child who uses sign language. that can be quite isolating. so hopefully with hearing friends are learning to sign, it will mean deaf children like daniel will mean deaf children like daniel will have a much better school social experience. a, will have a much better school social experience.— will have a much better school social experience. a much better experience- _ social experience. a much better experience. daniel, _ social experience. a much better experience. daniel, how- social experience. a much better experience. daniel, how are - social experience. a much better experience. daniel, how are you| experience. daniel, how are you feeling? tell us about when and how this campaign started. i just feeling? tell us about when and how this campaign started.— this campaign started. i “ust feel really excited * this campaign started. i “ust feel really excited today _ this campaign started. ijust feel really excited today because - this campaign started. ijust feel really excited today because i i really excited today because i started — really excited today because i started campaigning in 2018, five years—

started campaigning in 2018, five years ago— started campaigning in 2018, five years ago now. and also then covid happened. — years ago now. and also then covid happened, which put a further delay on things _ happened, which put a further delay on things. so it is finally starting to move — on things. so it is finally starting to move forward, and i am really excited _ to move forward, and i am really excited for— to move forward, and i am really excited for the future and things rotting _ excited for the future and things rolling out quickly.— excited for the future and things rolling out quickly. and, ann, how roud are rolling out quickly. and, ann, how proud are you _ rolling out quickly. and, ann, how proud are you of — rolling out quickly. and, ann, how proud are you of daniel? - rolling out quickly. and, ann, how proud are you of daniel? i - rolling out quickly. and, ann, howj proud are you of daniel? i imagine you are immensely proud of him for having started such a campaign at a very young age, just 12 years old. i am very proud of daniel. i mean, when we started, we really did not expect it was going to be such a big thing. it wasjust expect it was going to be such a big thing. it was just somebody needed to make that a challenge to move this forward. it is like, well, if we don't do it, he well? wejust felt like we had to do that. we did not expect the publicity. but i am really proud of him because he had to really plug away at this for years up to now. just really persevered. so this is a really good early christmas present, really.

and, daniel, i imagine there will be a lotta people wanting to take up the british sign language gcse. what do they have to look forward to and what can you tell them they can gain from learning british sign language? you know, there are so many benefits _ you know, there are so many benefits. they will be learning bsl, which _ benefits. they will be learning bsl, which is _ benefits. they will be learning bsl, which is learning a new language, they witi— which is learning a new language, they will be learning new skills. it is something that looks really good on is something that looks really good orr their— is something that looks really good on their cv — is something that looks really good on their cv when they show an employer _ on their cv when they show an employer. they can learn how to communicate with deaf people, which means, _ communicate with deaf people, which means, for— communicate with deaf people, which means, for myself, any mainstream school, _ means, for myself, any mainstream school, if _ means, for myself, any mainstream school, if the other children learn to bsl. _ school, if the other children learn to bsl. you — school, if the other children learn to bsl, you know, the communication wouid _ to bsl, you know, the communication would be _ to bsl, you know, the communication would be so _ to bsl, you know, the communication would be so much easier. it benefits both worlds, really. so it is amazingly positive.- both worlds, really. so it is amazingly positive. both worlds, really. so it is amazinal ositive. �* �* amazingly positive. and, ann, there will be a question _ amazingly positive. and, ann, there will be a question about _ amazingly positive. and, ann, there will be a question about resources, | will be a question about resources, actually, this is a question for both of you, because i imagine that because daniel has been campaigning,

he has been thinking about this, which has resources. i want to hear from both of you on this. some people might say, well, schools are really struggling with resources, they cannot take on another gcse. how would you respond to that? you know, they — how would you respond to that? you know, they need to start thinking now know, they need to start thinking how about — know, they need to start thinking now about training teachers to be ready _ now about training teachers to be ready to — now about training teachers to be ready to teach bsl. i know at the moment, — ready to teach bsl. i know at the moment, you know, the numbers are low. moment, you know, the numbers are low they— moment, you know, the numbers are low. they need to start thinking about _ low. they need to start thinking about how — low. they need to start thinking about how we train more death people to get— about how we train more death people to get involved, encouraging the deaf community to get involved —— two to— deaf community to get involved —— two to people involved. we need to move _ two to people involved. we need to move this _ two to people involved. we need to move this forward. how two to people involved. we need to move this forward.— move this forward. how about you, ann, that question _ move this forward. how about you, ann, that question about _ move this forward. how about you, | ann, that question about resources. if we always keep waiting for the resources and funding and everything to be right, it will never happen.

deaf children have been achieving for the under hearing peers special many years, not because they are not less able but because the support is not there. they are always working in their second language when it comes to exams. i think this is long overdue for deaf children to be able to achieve a qualification in their own language and to demonstrate, like, actually what they can achieve when they are allowed to use their own language. when they are allowed to use their own language-— own language. daniel, let's fast forward five _ own language. daniel, let's fast forward five years _ own language. daniel, let's fast forward five years or _ own language. daniel, let's fast forward five years or ten - own language. daniel, let's fast forward five years or ten years' | forward five years or ten years' time, if we are to speak again, and ihope we time, if we are to speak again, and i hope we do, what does success look like for you once this programme has been implemented? mr; like for you once this programme has been implemented?— been implemented? my vision five ears in been implemented? my vision five years in the _ been implemented? my vision five years in the future _ been implemented? my vision five years in the future is _ been implemented? my vision five years in the future is two - been implemented? my vision five years in the future is two to - years in the future is two to adhering _ years in the future is two to adhering students will be involved, teaming _ adhering students will be involved, learning together in the same classrooms —— deaf and hearing students, — classrooms —— deaf and hearing students, all medication barriers will disappear, that is my dream for

the future — will disappear, that is my dream for the future. hopefully there might be an a-tevet_ the future. hopefully there might be an a—level in the future to continue their— an a—level in the future to continue their development. an a-level in the future to continue their development.— their development. thank you very much. their development. thank you very much- thank— their development. thank you very much. thank you _ their development. thank you very much. thank you for _ their development. thank you very much. thank you forjoining - their development. thank you very much. thank you forjoining us - their development. thank you very l much. thank you forjoining us after such a wonderful campaign. thank ou. a group of mps has called on the premier league and other sporting bodies to cut what it calls the "bombardment" of gambling advertisments in stadiums. a report by the culture, media and sport committee welcomed a planned move to withdraw gambling sponsorship on the front of shirts, but said there are many other adverts to address. francis read reports. from day one of the premier league season, it's on the shirts and in the stadiums. those watching see thousands of gambling ads across multiple games. mps say the bombardment, particularly for kids, is too much. and while gambling sponsorship on the front of premier league shirts will eventually go, the cross—party culture,

media and sport committee says it won't be enough. mps have recommended a new gambling sponsorship code of conduct to be developed by the government and with sports governing bodies, and that a high proportion of ads should promote safer gambling. the report also supported extra online protection for young adults and for the introduction of a levy to be paid by gambling operators to fund addiction prevention and treatment. children are obviously, you know, go to football matches with their parents. it's a sort of standard family, wonderful outing. but there, there is a lot of exposure to gambling advertising. it's on the front of shirts, it's on the side of shirts, it's in the stadium in terms of the banners. it's also on the various sort of leaflets that are handed around. and what that does, and we've seen through this report where it talks about 7,000 gambling messages across six football matches, that means that children see gambling is normalised. the betting and gaming council said that a sports sponsorship code should be published without delay to drive up standards and that

rules already ensure advertising is responsible. the government said that proposed new measures would also deliver greater protections. but some charities have said it doesn't touch the sides and that gambling ads should be removed from sports like football entirely. francis read, bbc news. if you've been affected by any of the issues raised, you can find organisations offering help and support on the bbc action line website — just search bbc.co.uk/actionline. the labour leader — sir keir starmer — has backed calls for a change in the law on assisted dying. the cause has been championed by dame esther rantzen, who has called for politicians to grapple with the issue for the first time since 2015. the labour leader, who backed a change in the law the last

time the issue was voted on in the commons in 2015, acknowledged it would have to be addressed carefully. 0n the question of assisted dying, they're obviously strong views both ways on this, which i respect, and that's why, traditionally, this has always been dealt with with a private member's bill and a free vote, and that seems appropriate to me. i personally do think there are grounds for changing the law. we have to be careful, but it would to be, i think, a free vote on an issue where there are such divided and strong views. now it's time for a look at the weather with chris fawkes. a row has broken out between parents and their children's primary school in east london. it comes after an eight—year—old palestinian boy was excluded from class for wearing a palestinian badge on his coat. 0ne palestinian badge on his coat. one of the parents received what they feel our letters threatening a referral to the government's

counterterrorism programme prevent. they claim it is because of their pro—palestinian support, but the school says it is just keeping politics out of the classroom. an angry protest outside a primary school in east london. parents are calling for an eight—year—old pupil, his mum is from gaza, to be allowed backin his mum is from gaza, to be allowed back in school. he has been off for weeks after refusing the school's demand to remove a palestinian badge from his coat. he demand to remove a palestinian badge from his coat-— from his coat. he has been traumatised _ from his coat. he has been traumatised by _ from his coat. he has been traumatised by his - from his coat. he has been - traumatised by his mistreatment at school, the dissemination he has faced by teachers, the detention, humiliation.— faced by teachers, the detention, humiliation. ., . �*, ., humiliation. your child's education is very important, _ humiliation. your child's education is very important, wouldn't - humiliation. your child's education is very important, wouldn't it - humiliation. your child's education is very important, wouldn't it be . is very important, wouldn't it be easier to change the code? absolutely, his education is of paramount concern, his welfare is paramount concern, his welfare is paramount concern. it is not an

issue of a flag, i think it is beyond that.— issue of a flag, i think it is beyond that. issue of a flag, i think it is be ond that. ,. , beyond that. the school has sent several letters _ beyond that. the school has sent several letters asking _ beyond that. the school has sent several letters asking parents - beyond that. the school has sent| several letters asking parents not to send their children in wearing clothes, scarves or badges showing any political belief. in some of the letters, there is a mention of a referral to the government's counterterrorism programme prevent that has made many here felt threatened. irate that has made many here felt threatened.— that has made many here felt threatened. ~ , ,, . threatened. we were shocked and actually quite _ threatened. we were shocked and actually quite upset _ threatened. we were shocked and actually quite upset that - threatened. we were shocked and actually quite upset that the - threatened. we were shocked andl actually quite upset that the school took that _ actually quite upset that the school took that approach with the parents. it took that approach with the parents. it was _ took that approach with the parents. it wasjust— took that approach with the parents. it wasjust too took that approach with the parents. it was just too much in the first instance — it was just too much in the first instance i_ it was just too much in the first instance. i think the school could have _ instance. i think the school could have taken — instance. i think the school could have taken a nicer approach about it. i have taken a nicer approach about it. . , , ., , it. i was quite stunned to begin with, i had _ it. i was quite stunned to begin with, i had to _ it. i was quite stunned to begin with, i had to reread _ it. i was quite stunned to begin with, i had to reread it - it. i was quite stunned to begin with, i had to reread it and - it. i was quite stunned to begin i with, i had to reread it and check that i had read what i had read. followed by being stunned into silence, i was quite annoyed and angry that they would threatened parents with prevent. that is not something you do, you do not threaten parents with prevent. the trust which runs the school has strongly refuted all allegations.

they see, there is no evidence to support any allegations of bullying or misconduct against the eight—year—old boy. regards the prevent referral, they say it has been taken out of context. the school made the decision to close early for the christmas break, but the row looks likely to continue well into the new year. taste the row looks likely to continue well into the new year. we will never let them _ well into the new year. we will never let them lie! _ you're watching bbc news. a reminder of the breaking news this past hour. an unexpected strike by tunnel workers has led to eurostar rail services being suspended, threatening the christmas holiday plans for a number of travellers. we'll bring you more as and when we get it. stay with us the headlines are next at the top of the other.

live from london, this is bbc news. hamas says there won't be any talks about prisoner swaps until the israeli offensive in gaza ends. as diplomatic efforts continue,

the world health organization says there is no functioning hospital left in northern gaza. a judge is due to rule today on whether the two teenagers convicted of murdering 16—year—old brianna ghey should be named publicly. a top eu court rules that uefa's ban on a european super league is unlawful. hello. i'm lucy hockings. welcome to bbc news now. there are no obvious signs of progress towards a pause in the gaza conflict this hour, despite extensive diplomatic efforts over the past 2a hours. a spokesman for hamas — whose leader, ismail haniyeh, is still in cairo for talks — has said, "we cannot talk about negotiations while israel continues its aggression." fighting in the gaza strip has escalated. people there have described it as some of the most intense israeli bombardment of the war.