MINIATURE mortarboards were thrown into the air by the departing pupils of a Torfaen nursery school at their graduation ceremony.

Now in its eighth year, Henllys Village Nursery honours its outgoing pupils by holding a university-style celebration, even if the children are preparing for the next step of their educational adventure.

Dressed in purple gowns and matching caps, the first of three ceremonies was held at the nursery on this morning, with parents and other relatives in attendance.

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The first of the three ceremonies of graduating pre-schoolers at Henllys Village Nursery

Stacey Russell, the head of pre-school, said: “It is a proud day for all of us at the nursery, as well as for the children and their relatives.

“Many of the children have been here with us since they were babies and have grown up right before our eyes. It has been a great experience working with them.”

Each of the 36 children leaving the nursery takes part in the graduation ceremony, and the pupils sang a farewell song before throwing their caps aloft.

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Parents and relatives watched on the children received their certificates from Cllr Jessica Powell, the Mayor of Torfaen

“It is just a great way for the nursery to show off the children’s achievements with the graduation ceremony before they move onto big school,” added Mrs Russell.

“They are moving onto their next steps in their school lives, as we’ve seen them grow from infants into the little darlings which they are.

“We were fortunate with the weather this year and the first of the three ceremonies has been lovely.”

The children received their certificates from the Mayor of Torfaen, Cllr Jessica Powell, who praised the children on their achievements and labelled the ceremony as one of the most adorable things she has ever seen.

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The first graduating class of children at Henllys Village Nursery and Cllr Jessica Powell