* Click here to sign up to free news and sport email alerts from Roundhay Today.

For 500 children and staff at Gledhow Primary School joined 18,000 across the country to try to break the Guinness World Record for "the most people simultaneously performing sign language to a song at different venues."

* Click here for latest news in Roundhay & Oakwood.

The youngsters, from tots to 11-year-olds, braved rainy weather to stand in the playground and sign along to Sunshine in My Heart, a song written especially for the record attempt.

They were led by Vicky Hawley, speech and language therapist based at the school in Roundhay.

She said: "It went excellently. All the children really enjoyed it and enjoyed taking part."

Gledhow is one of four schools across Leeds which provide extra support for children with speech, language and communication needs.

Vicky, who works for the NHS Leeds Speech and Language Therapy Service, helps these children in school.

She organised the school's participation in the world record attempt which was to celebrate the 40th anniversary of Afasic, the national charity which helps children and young people with speech, language and communication impairments.

She said pupils picked up the signs very quickly.

"It only took a couple of sessions over the last few weeks," she said.
"This is raising the profile of speech and language needs and making sure all children who do have difficulties in that area have access to the service."

Headteacher Stephen Archer was delighted with the pupils' efforts, saying: "Gledhow Primary School is proud to be taking part in this record attempt and to be helping to raise awareness of such a worthy cause."

Youngsters were enthusiastic about learning to sign.

Ayrton Magras, nine, of Chapeltown, Leeds, said: "It was really easy but it was also very good, especially for me because my auntie is deaf so I feel really good because I can communicate with her."
Dejhanni Carrington, 10, also from Chapeltown, added: "It was really excellent because you could understand how people can communicate with each other."

Eleven-year-old Liam Calvert, of Chapel Allerton, said he enjoyed
learning the signs and added: "I thought it would be a bit complicated, but it was easy."

The young signers will find out if they have broken the world record after attempts at all 187 schools nationally have been verified by
Guinness.