A nursery class celebrated their graduation to big school at the end of the year with staff left ‘sad but excited for their future’.

The Little Green Man Nursery in Lemna Road, Leytonstone, bade farewell to 27 children with a graduation party on Saturday (July 25).

Parents were invited by the pre-school managers Emily Hawkins and Hayley Bruce to enjoy a bouncy castle, face painting, fairground games and a show put on by the children.

Each child was presented with a certificate, photograph and teddy bear as a reminder of the time spent at the nursery.

Emily Hawkins, the pre-school manager, said: “Going off to big school is a momentous time in the children's lives, they have formed excellent relationships with both key workers and peers alike.

“Over the course of the children's time at nursery we have made so many wonderful memories, trips to the local park, farm and library, raising money for various charities, learning about the world around us and developing essential skills for later life.

“Of course we are sad to see them go but also excited as the children go off to meet new friends and continue to strive in their developmental areas, we are sure they will continue all their hard work and achieve all of their dreams as they continue to grow."

The children from Little Green Man Nursery will be joining schools including George Tomlinson, Davis Lane and Gwynn Jones and have already received visits from their new teachers over the last week.