There were smiles and laughs, a few tears, and proud parents as nursery school children attended their graduation.

Eastern Daily Press: Yaseen Rouf, 4, at the Jelly Tots Nursery graduation. Picture: Rebecca MurphyYaseen Rouf, 4, at the Jelly Tots Nursery graduation. Picture: Rebecca Murphy (Image: Archant)

The Jelly Tots Nursery class of 2017, complete with gowns and mortarboards, picked up certificates in front of their family.

The three and four-year-olds will now prepare for the next step in their lives - school.

This is the second time the Thetford-based nursery has held a graduation, with 17 children attending the ceremony.

Ana Ribeiro, owner of the nursery, said: 'It is great to see them ready to go. They are prepared and ready to take their next steps.

'They have achieved so much. I am very proud and it feels like our work has been done properly.'

The youngsters leave the nursery with a certificate, a picture of their graduation day and a story book.

They also have a learning book which has documented their journey with the nursery.