What is a nursery graduation?

Image credit: The London Early Years Foundation

Over recent years, graduation ceremonies have slowly but surely become a popular nursery tradition across the UK.

Originating from across the pond, graduations serve as a celebration of children’s achievements during their time at nursery and mark the end of their early years education as they prepare to take their first steps into school life.

If you’re new to the graduation world, you might be wondering why nurseries have adopted the American tradition and whether it really is worth the fuss, or you might even be looking for nursery graduation ideas yourself. In this article we’ll explore the benefits of children donning a graduation cap and what nurseries do to celebrate the occasion.

What are nursery graduations?

Nursery graduations mimic the traditional graduation ceremonies we see across higher education. In most celebrations, children are adorned with a cap and gown and presented with a certificate to acknowledge their ‘completion’ of nursery or preschool.

Graduations are also arranged by nurseries to showcase children’s development to parents and families. Choosing and trusting a nursery is a big deal, and in many ways graduations are a ‘thank you’ from the nursery team for choosing their setting and a chance for them to wish the children the best for their future.

Jenny Shaw, Lead Academic Research and Developer for Busy Bees, an early years childcare provider with settings located across the UK and Ireland, says:

“Many of our children will have been with us since they were babies and spent two years in the pre-school room. Helping them to move onto school as happy and confident young learners shows how successfully we have worked in partnership with families during their time at Busy Bees.

“The nursery graduation is a wonderful celebration of the child’s journey and an important – and emotional – moment for their families and educators. Creating a sense of occasion helps to mark that milestone. It is also a lot of fun for all involved.”

Why hold a nursery graduation?

Whilst some people may think nursery graduations are an unnecessary event, there are many benefits to marking those final nursery days.

Helping children to understand the end of their nursery journey

Moving on can be daunting for children, even if they’ve been attending nursery for just a few months, they’ve likely settled into a routine and got to know the staff and other children at the setting, and so the thought of moving on may make them feel unsettled or nervous about what’s to come.

At Tops Day Nurseries, a sustainable childcare and educational group in the UK, graduations are an important event in the year and are celebrated across the settings.

Kirstie Malyon, manager of Tops Day Nurseries: Fawley Nursery, explains how graduations benefit children:

“Graduations are a chance for the children to celebrate their time at nursery with the staff and their parents/carers. It is such a big milestone, leaving nursery and transitioning to school.

“It is an achievement for children, and they have accomplished something to be proud of. It teaches children about change as they move on to a new chapter in their life, and it’s a positive experience.”

Allowing children to say goodbye to the friends they’ve made

Although some of the children may well be moving on to the same school, the majority will likely be preparing to attend different settings. Graduations offer one last chance to get together and have fun.

Graduations are also a key date in the calendar at The London Early Years Foundation (LEYF), a childcare provider with nurseries located across 12 London boroughs.

Gemma Morris, manager of Mark’s Gate Nursery and Pre-School, a LEYF setting, comments:

“For the children, it helps them to recognise that they will be leaving nursery to start school. Some children may find the transition difficult, but graduation is one of the final steps the teachers and nursery have planned to prepare the children for their next educational journey.

“They would have made lots of friendships with other children that may not be going to the same school as them, so it is also an opportunity to make some more memories with those friends.” 

Recognising children’s achievements

From the first drop off up to the point they are ready to transition to school, your child will have developed in a range of different ways. Celebrating their accomplishments will encourage positive self-esteem and pride in their own abilities.

Ms Morris explains:

“For us, graduation is a celebration of the children’s achievements whilst at the nursery. Whether they have been with us for 4 months or 4 years, a lot happens in these early years education for the children that should be celebrated.

The children reach so many of their life milestones in such a short time with us, it’s important to recognise just how amazing the children are, and celebrate the adults, parents and teachers, who have helped them along the way.”

This sentiment is also shared by Mags Pritchett, manager of Tops Day Nurseries: Lymington Nursery, who says that graduations are hugely beneficial as they “allow children to celebrate and take pride in their achievements – boosting their emotional well-being and self-esteem, which as we know is so important to instil at an early age to ensure they have the resilience to move forwards and grow.”

Donna Mooney, manager of Efford Nursery, another Tops Day Nurseries setting located in Plymouth, further supports the notion that graduations serve to build children’s confidence. She comments:

“Graduations encourage children to engage in education and gives them a real sense of achievement in what they have achieved… they increase the children’s confidence and self-esteem and create a sense of pride in their first experiences of education. This sense of pride will encourage the children to be excited about their education and the importance of it.”

How do nurseries celebrate graduations?

So we’ve established that they can be really beneficial for children in a range of ways, but you might still be wondering what happens at nursery graduations. Whilst celebrations will inevitably differ between different settings, there are shared elements that you’ll likely see shared across the (mortar) board.

Outfits

No occasion would be complete without the proper attire. To celebrate their graduation, nursery children often don the traditional gown and mortarboard, taking on the role of a true graduate.

At Marks Gate Nursery, Ms Morris explains how children prepare before the big day:

“In the lead up to graduation, all the children would have made and decorated their own mortarboards to wear on the day, and had their photos taken in a graduation gown and cap, as well as a photo with what the children have said they want to be when they grow up.”

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If dressing up is part of graduation at your child’s nursery, it’s a good idea to find out in advance if this will be provided. If the nursery doesn’t supply outfits, you can get these for a low cost to rent or buy, or even make them yourself.

Certificates

Once dressed and ready, graduations will often include the presentation of a certificate or a gift to each child. Some nurseries like to do this on a stage, replicating the traditional graduation ceremonies where each child will go up one by one and collect their ‘scroll’.

Ms Malyon describes the celebrations that take place at Fawley Nursery:

“We invite all parents/carers into the setting to celebrate with us. The manager/room manager delivers a talk about the big milestones the children are now going on to, and how we have seen them learn, grow and develop. We have a stage that is decorated with our graduation banner, and the children wear their graduation gowns and hats, go up onto the stage and collect their graduation scroll from their key worker.”

Busy Bees takes a similar approach, with Ms Shaw commenting:

“In our nurseries, the children dress up for a ceremony where each is presented with a certificate, and their key person says a few words about their time at Busy Bees. We then have a professional photographer take individual and group keepsake pictures.”

Poems or songs

Many graduations include children reading or singing a poem or song about their time at nursery. They might do this individually or in a group, sometimes with teachers playing a role too, and it’s a chance for parents and families to see their child flourishing.

Ms Mooney explains how children are supported during the run up to graduation day at Efford Nursery in Plymouth:

“All of our staff are there encouraging them and we practice for weeks before and learn a song to sing which is fun and energetic. The children also choose what they want to sing and take an active part in the preparation for their big day. After all, this day is about them and celebrating all that they have achieved.”

Party time!

Once the ‘formalities’ are over with, many nurseries will have food and music to really celebrate the event. Afternoon teas are popular, whilst others may opt for a traditional buffet. Some nurseries choose a theme for their graduation ceremonies which will determine the kind of celebrations you can expect. For example they may choose a Hollywood theme with a red carpet for children to walk, or Alice in Wonderland with a Mad Hatter’s tea party.

At Marks Gate Nursery and Pre-School, Ms Morris explains how everybody is encouraged to get involved in the graduation celebrations:

“In previous years we have had a parent who plays the steel drum come and play for the children and families, a dad that has dressed up as spider man, and an aunt who came and painted the children’s faces.

“The families are invited to bring a traditional dish to share, and our chef makes some nutritious snacks and healthy cake. We have a karaoke machine and party games for the children to enjoy. Graduation is a day enjoyed by everyone, making saying goodbye to the children and families we have cared for a happy celebration of our time together.”

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Whether you’re fully on board with the graduation trend or not quite convinced, remember that finishing nursery is a great milestone for your child and at their heart, graduations serve to recognise children’s progress over the last few years, ensuring they leave nursery with happy memories and marking the start of their next big adventure.