More and more infant schools are staging school-end proms, complete with ball gowns, tuxedos and stretch limos. It is a disturbing trend, many warn.
At Maerdy Infant School in Rhondda, South Wales, parents hired ball gowns and tuxedos for their seven-year-olds to wear at last year's event, not to mention hiring white stretch limousines to transport them to their end-of-infant school party.
But some mothers remain unfazed. Adele Wilk insists the children enjoyed the event at Maerdy Infant School in Rhondda, South Wales, last year.
'Ellie had the time of her life,' says Adele. 'We bought her a beautiful ball gown on the internet from a website which sold bridesmaids' dresses. It only cost Ģ20, so it was a bargain. Then I arranged for my cousin, who is a hairdresser, to come and do Ellie's hair, make-up and nails, and even put glitter on her face.
'She looked so grown up, like a little adult, and even had flowers round her wrist. She wore make-up including lip gloss, and she was so thrilled. We hired a limousine for her and eight friends, which cost Ģ12 each, and the limo took them round the village before dropping them at school.
'They were waving to everyone, and then got out and walked into the school. She didn't have a date, as such, but they danced with the boys and they had such a treat to remember.