DONNING white lab coats with beakers in hand tots celebrated a year of learning about science at a special ceremony.

Two mothers set up the sessions, giving toddlers a crack at science-specific education, in a bid to broaden the teaching age.

Mini Professors was launched by Sophie Allnutt and Emily Whyte last year inspired by their own chemistry backgrounds in order to get young children ready for primary school science lessons.

“We are so pleased it has been such a success,” Mrs Allnutt said. “The children love to get involved in the experiments and it is a great opportunity to prepare them for preschool and school. We are amazed at how well they sit and listen. Young children are so enthusiastic about science – they have inquisitive minds and they are not afraid to ask questions.

“This covers a two-year curriculum for children from two until they are four-years- old with a completely different topic being taught each week. Subjects can vary from dinosaurs to polymers, gravity to digestion.

“The children get to wear their own mini lab coats and learn about the basic principles of scientific experimentation, whilst having loads of fun, listening to stories, watching videos and generally getting stuck in.”

Their lessons have been so successful that the pair has just signed a contract with another toddler class – the start of their franchise.

“The lessons have been sold out and we have over 70 children attending each week at the Discovery Centre,” Mrs Allnutt added. “Families have come from as far as Gosport to attend.

“The venture has been such a success that word has spread and people have contacted us from all over the country asking if we can run classes near them. We are due to launch our first franchises across the country after Easter next year, so 2015 will be another exciting year for mini professors.”