TWO tiny teachers have been visiting Ardgowan Primary to help pupils understand their own feelings and those of others.

Babies Millen and Calvin have been paying visits to P3 pupils as part of the Roots of Empathy Project.

It sees parents and babies brought into classrooms over a number of months to allow the pupils to see them grow, develop, learn.

It aims to teach them empathy, understanding and love.

Two teachers at the school - Stacey-Lee McLellan and Charlene McCluskey - are both currently off on maternity leave and were keen to bring their babies along to take part in the project.

Charlene and nine month old Calvin and Stacey-Lee and her baby Millen, who is eight months, have enjoyed visiting the pupils.

Stacey-Lee said: “Millen has been brilliant, watching him start to recognise the pupils and smile away when he sees them is great.

"It’s a great experience for both of us.

“The pupils have been brilliant too, they like to know about his development and they interact with him really well.

“They are constantly asking questions and when Millen and Calvin are together they ask questions about how they are different.”

Class teacher Roly Srivastava, says he's noticed a positive change in his pupils since Millen and Calvin started to visit.

She said: “The children have learned so much.

“They have been learning just as much from the babies as the babies have been learning from them.

"The children love singing songs and seeing Millen and Calvin react.

“There is only a month between the babies but there is a difference in what they can do and the pupils have loved learning about it.”

Home link worker Hugh Jamieson has been helping to deliver the project for a number of years and believes it's been a big success.

He said: “The children really enjoy it, they are always so happy and full of enthusiasm.

“It really helps with emotional wellbeing and they like to see the children develop.

“Both babies have taken it in their stride and have been great.

"There have been a few tears but that's good because it's all part of the learning process, the babies can’t talk so the children start to recognise what they might want or need.

“It also demonstrates that looking after a baby is a lot of work.

"It's just great to see the pupils and the babies interact."