A UNIVERSITY has produced its latest crop of graduates – even though they are only four years old.
Children from the St Mary’s Childcare Centre, at Sunderland University, graduated from pre-school after their happy years in the nursery.
The “students” donned gowns, made by nursery staff, and were presented with certificates.
Senior childcare officer Trudy Burton said: “The children have been planning the graduation ceremony for the last month during activity time in the nursery.
“Staff have brought in photographs of themselves graduating and have explained that the ceremony is a positive change which means the children are growing up and moving on.”
Judith Green, director of marketing at the university, presented the certificates. She said: “The years these children have spent at St Mary’s have given them a solid start to their educational lives. Hopefully, one day we’ll be welcoming them back as undergraduate students.”
The centre, which caters for youngsters from birth to 12, opened in 1990 and provides childcare for people who work or study at the university.
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