SHINING stars heralded the start to Yuletide in rhyme as tiny tots performed a musical Christmas tale.
Angels, shepherds and kings joined camels, donkeys and farmyard animals to sing their way to Bethlehem as they took to the stage with their play Our First Nativity.
The traditional Christmas tale with a twist saw 67 reception pupils, aged four and five, perform a medley of seasonal songs based on familiar tunes and nursery rhymes.
Assistant head teacher Claire Martindale said: “This is the first time our receptions pupils have taken part in a school nativity play and they have all been very excited.
“They had eight new songs to learn and because they were all to the tunes of well known nursery rhymes, such as Row Row Row Your Boat, Hickory Dickory Dock and Ring a Ring a Roses, they picked them up really quickly.
“We have only been rehearsing for a week so they have done extremely well and once again we have had fantastic support from our parents who have provided all the costumes and helped the children learn their lines.”
The lead roles of Mary and Joseph were played by pupils Lucy-Jane Davison, four, and Samuel Barker, five, with Eliza Smith, four, playing the donkey.
Pupil Jemima Harsley, four, also took a star part singing a solo of the Christmas carol Away in a Manger.
“Each half term we look at different types of celebrations, such as Diwali, birthdays and even bonfire night,” added Mrs Martindale.
“It’s lovely to be able to finish the year on the biggest celebration of all and remind the children of the true meaning of Christmas.”