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Waiters and waitresses are looking younger these days.

Reception pupils at Magna Carta Primary Academy donned their bow ties and aprons to open their own café.

Parents and grandparents flocked to sample the delights prepared by their four-year-old children, including cupcakes, sandwiches and drinks.

The event was part of the school’s mission to prepare young people for the real world, exposing them as early as possible to enterprise, money and work.

Headteacher Marios Solomonides said: “Our reception children have been learning about enterprise, about how to prepare food and how to serve. They have also been learning about money and the different coins we use and how to count it.

“Whether someone is four or seven or 11, they are capable of a lot more than we often give them credit for. To give children the responsibility of preparing a café environment, to understand the concept of money, serving customers, taking money; those are important skills and a four-year-old can pick them up more than you might think. If children know what is expected of them and they know what success looks like, they will do it and they will feel good about it.

“We encourage our parents to get children to do more for themselves at home as they are expected to do things for themselves at school. If they are not going to practise dressing themselves at home, for example, how can they do it for PE at school.

“Enterprise and aspiration are curriculum drivers at Magna Carta. It’s about showing children a different range of careers, businesses and the different roles people have. Also, one of our school rules is to work hard. They need to know they have to work for their money.

“It was terrific. It was so exciting for them to have their parents join them for this event. Our parents are amazing and there was standing room only as so many turned up to support their children.”

Pupils made their own menus, set up the tables and made floral decorations for the afternoon.

Hazel Crundwell, mum of Georgia, said: “The excitement has been building for today as mummy and daddy were coming to see her café.

“The children are amazing. Georgia has got quite a bit of confidence from doing this. Seeing her serving people, not just us, she is really enjoying herself which is nice to see as she is shy. To see her come out of herself is lovely.”