GOWNS, mortarboards and certificates – children from Little Bears nursery had a very grown up graduation on Sunday.

A group of 26 four and five-year-olds recently finished at the nursery in Martindale Road and went off to primary school.

But staff were keen to give them a proper send-off. They arranged a ceremony for the children and invited staff and parents to watch.

The children dressed up in black gowns and cardboard mortarboards and took turns to walk on stage and receive their certificate.

“All the parents and grandparents were invited down and there’s always a few tears”, said Andrew Neville, a member of staff at the nursery for four years.

Children at the nursery helped to make the hats while staff members clubbed together to make gowns and certificates.

The ceremony has grown each year since it began.

“It started with just a scroll and every year since it’s gotten bigger and better. This is the first year all the kids have worn gowns,” Mr Neville said.

“The nursery covers the cost as a way of saying thank you to the children for letting us be part of their lives.”