The Class of ’25 graduate from The Montessori People nursery in Stockton

Three-and four-year-olds at a Stockton-on-Tees nursery school celebrated the last day of their early years education on Friday (4 July 2025) as they graduated from The Montessori People Nursery in Thornaby, ready for the move on to ‘big school’ in September. 28 excited pre-school children donned eye-catching golden caps and gowns for the occasion. Each graduate was presented with a graduation scroll in front of family and friends during the afternoon ceremony. All pre-school children at The Montessori People Nursery learn a British Sign Language ‘Sign of the Week’ as part of the nursery curriculum. Graduation was a chance for them to showcase their skills on the day by singing and signing ‘I Can Sing a Rainbow’. The ceremony ended with a gathering in the nursery’s garden when the children were invited to throw their mortar boards in the air. Cheryl Lambert, Operations Manager of The Montessori People Nursery said: “Graduating from nursery is the final step in a child’s nursery education and an important rite of passage for everyone involved. “It’s the biggest event in our calendar and something the children and staff really look forward to. Our pre-school children understand that this is a moment of change, but also that they are prepared for what comes next. The ceremony is a public acknowledgment of their achievements – and a huge boost for their self-esteem as they move onto the next chapter. “It can be quite a daunting experience for young children, not to mention their parents, so we practise and practise to make sure they know what to expect on the day and feel happy and confident to take part.” Moving onto ‘big school’ is a big deal for the thousands of UK nursery school pupils who, at roughly the same time every year, say a fond farewell to their early years’ education and a wide-eyed hello to the next 14 years of formal education. Cheryl continued: “Celebrating the end of pre-school with a bang has so many benefits, as well as being an awful lot of fun! It’s a chance for the parents and children to say goodbye to each other and to the nursery staff who have cared for and nurtured them day-in, day-out, many of them since they were babies.”

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