YOUNGSTERS immersed themselves in a week of singing nursery rhymes as part of an international celebration.

St Gregory and St Patrick’s Catholic Infant School in Whitehaven celebrated World Nursery Rhyme Week.

More than 150 children in the Early Years Unit aged between two and five, learned a new nursery rhyme each day.

News and Star: Children enjoyed lots of activities to mark World Nursery Rhyme WeekChildren enjoyed lots of activities to mark World Nursery Rhyme Week (Image: St Gregory and St Patrick's Catholic Infant School)

The rhymes were: ‘The Big Ship Sails’, ‘1, 2, 3, 4, 5 once I caught a fish alive’, ‘Five little speckled frogs’, ‘B-I-N-G-O’ and ‘Twinkle, twinkle little star’.

Amy McManus, nursery lead teacher, said: “We had lots of wonderful activities planned such as baking star biscuits, different themed tuff tray activities, dancing, mark making and lots of crafts.

News and Star: Youngsters enjoyed baking star biscuitsYoungsters enjoyed baking star biscuits (Image: St Gregory and St Patrick's Catholic Infant School)

“Nursery rhymes play such an important role in early childhood. They help children’s language, vocabulary and cognitive development as well as start them on their love of reading journey.

“As a school we were so proud to be a Nursery Rhyme Ambassador to help promote and raise the importance of early literacy and language.

“We wanted to get adults involved too, so posted a nursery rhyme quiz on Facebook for them to win a nursery rhyme book to share with their little one.”