SCHOOLGIRL Natalie Joseph has given her classmates a few lessons in the art of communication - even though she can't hear a word they say.

The bubbly five-year-old has been deaf since she was born, but she wasn't going to let that get in the way of having fun at school.

As a result, all the pupils at Mayfield County Primary School, St Annes, are having sign language lessons along with the teachers.

Natalie's mum Petrice told the Citizen: "Natalie's always been a very clever little girl and good with her reading and we were advised to let her attend a normal school and not be singled out or segregated.

"I realised in hospital not long after Natalie was born there was something wrong, as mother's do, and at 3-4 months we realised she was deaf.

"But it's never been a problem and Natalie attended nursery like every other little girl but with the addition of a communicator.

"From her very first day at Mayfield she has also been accompanied by her communicator Sue Smith who signed and replied for Natalie so she could keep up with the lessons and it caught on with the rest of the school.

"All Natalie's friends and teachers were really interested and it has grown from there.

"Myself and my husband Zion also now sign, as does Natalie's twin brother Ilan and older brother Benjamin." And Sue Smith, whose parents were both profoundly deaf, added: "The first day Natalie started at Mayfield I began to teach the rest of the school sign language and now the whole school knows a limited amount.

"Natalie's class learn new signs every day and they really find it fun.

"It's just grown and grown and nobody is forced.

"It's fantastic."

Natalie is now busy getting ready for her role as the ballerina doll in the school's production of the Magic Toyshop next week (Dec 13) and proud mum Petrice can't wait.

"I would just like to tell other parents with children with hearing problems to persevere and see what happens."

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