South Tyneside pre-schoolers hold first community Christmas singalong in North Marine Park

Children aged three and four-years-old from South Shields and Hebburn nurseries, performed in the first event to be held at their community garden in North Marine Park on Friday, December 20.

The children from Nurserytime, were allocated the community garden space earlier this year and have been tending to their plot since the summer, to help them learn life skills and build links with the community.

Parents and people who have worked with the children over the last year were all invited to celebrate the end of term and the beginning of the festive season.

They were joined at the event by the Mayor and Mayoress of South Tyneside Councillor Norman Dick and Jean Williamson, who have been working with the children throughout the year.

Tom Sheerin, who teaches weekly singing and music classes at the nursery and South Tyneside parks officer, Jade Ridley who allocated them the garden space were also special guests.

South Shields Football Club coach Nathan Kew attended with team captain, Jon Shaw who brought a signed strip donated by the club.

The shirt is now being auctioned off to help raise money for the nursery’s nominated charity, Sense, which supports deaf and blind children by providing sensory resources.

“We have had a lot of events going on throughout December for the parents and children but as we have only just been allocated the community garden space, we thought it would be the perfect venue to hold a bigger Christmas event,” said nursery manager Helen Coulson.

“It was a great opportunity to get everybody together, have a little bit of a singalong and a chat with everybody who works with our children from the different nurseries.”

Helen added: “The event was a huge success and hopefully it is something we can do every year. I would just like to thank South Shields Football Club, Jade Ridley and the Mayor and Mayoress and everyone that attended and made the event possible.”