DEAF children went to the front of their class to show teachers how to talk their silent language.

Margaret Gregory, head teacher of Devonshire Road Primary School, fellow teachers and pupils were given first hand knowledge of sign language yesterday.

Ten year olds from nearby Thomasson Memorial primary school turned up to give lessons in sign and finger spell communication.

It was all part of the school's bid to break down barriers and promote National Deaf Awareness Week.

Elizabeth Young, from Thomasson Memorial School, said: "We like to get involved in National Deaf Awareness Week and each year we make the trip across to the nearby school to teach sign language.

"The children were only supposed to be teaching the head teacher, but the rest of the school wanted to join in too.

"All children from our school play out at Devonshire Road school at break times and lunch times. It's great that the school children can now communicate.

"The children were very excited and the pupils from Devonshire Road were fascinated."

Eileen Hosie, teacher for the deaf, guided the children through the impromtu lesson yesterday.

Sohhil Hussain, aged 10, thought that it was a good idea for all Bolton schools to have some knowledge of sign language. The Thomasson Memorial School pupil, speaking over the telephone using a special touch typwritter, said he found it useful for other children to be able to speak with him through sign language.

"I find it useful to try to make friends. I play with some of these children during the days. It's nice for them to sign."

Ashleigh MacKinnon, 11, said that he found it very funny when Mrs Gregory kept mixing up her sign language.

He said: "Sign language is hard to learn because there are a lot of movements. Mrs Gregory kept on getting them all wrong." THOMASSON SCHOOL FACTFILE Thomasson Memorial School was founded in 1905 by a Mr Thomasson.

The school now has 46 pupils.

The residential block at the school was closed in the 1980s and is set to be demolished next year for new housing. The school no longer has pupils who live on the premises.

For years the deaf and blind were taught together. Eventually the blind section of the school closed and the children were transferrred to Henshaw's school for the blind at Old Trafford, Manchester.

In 2001 the school is set to get a new main hall, thanks to local funding from the Bolton Council.