Miles Coverdale Primary School

In Miles Coverdale Speech and Language Unit, we use PGSS to support children's language development. Paget Gorman signed speech is an augmentative sign system – designed to be used alongside speech and not to replace it – so it gives the listener additional cues and supports understanding of language. All signs are grouped by meaning, under ‘umbrella’ signs called Basic Signs  – so all signs to do with plants are based on the basic sign for PLANT e.g. tree, green … this supports comprehension and language and cognitive development. There are 37 Basic Signs  like, PLANT, ANIMAL, CONTAINER, on which most signs are based (try guessing signs from ANIMAL, giraffe, elephant, kangaroo, dog, cat)

• All signs are made between the neck and waist – so they can be seen without covering the mouth – so the listener can use lip reading
• Every sign has an instruction (listed alphabetically in the manual & on the website), which consists of two parts

• a Standard Hand Posture (the shape you make with your hand e.g  flat hand, spread hand)  
• where you put it and if and how you move it (directions)