A PIONEERING baby project which is run in Island primary schools will feature in this evening's edition of the ITV1 current affairs programme Tonight.
The programme, one of three on Britain's children and the pressures of childhood, will focus on the Roots of Empathy project where parents take newborn babies into classrooms to help teach six and seven year olds about feelings and behaviours.
Parents Sarah and Dean Hitchen were filmed taking their 19 week old daughter Aurelia into Auldyn Infant's School for a Roots of Empathy session led by Emma Kinrade a nursery nurse and Roots of Empathy trainer.
Filming for the programme took place in December. Headteacher Chrissy Callaghan said: "The Roots of Empathy programme has been very successful within our school. We ran the programme last year as a trial and were so pleased with it that we extended it into all three of our year two classes this year.
"As well as Emma Kinrade we now have two parents Tania Cowan and Vickie Heavey who have also become Roots of Empathy trainers. We also appreciate the time given by the parents and babies involved in the programme as without them the programme couldn't run.
"Roots of Empathy supports our strong personal, social and emotional programme within school. It encourages children to reflect on their own thoughts and feelings and to develop empathy for others. Our hope is that they will take these skills with them through their school lives and into adulthood. The programme is unique in that it allows the teacher to observe the children's reactions during the session.
"We aim to continue to run Roots of Empathy with our year two classes next year as it has been such an overwhelming success."
As well as filming the session the children were also filmed playing together and sharing and helping each other in the playground.
Sarah Hitchen, who is a teacher at the school, said: "I was pleased to be asked to join the Roots of Empathy programme. My friend's children were part of it in previous years and found the experience valuable.
"Roots did not end after the year but the class continued to take an interest in the baby for a lot longer keen to play with them at the park, swimming pool, and I could see them applying what they had learnt in the classroom by how they played with and spoke to the child. It made me feel like we were part of a very close community. I hope that this is the case for Aurelia.
"The children have been incredibly welcoming and Aurelia has enjoyed the calm and caring atmosphere the class provided. There is a magical feeling of awe and wonder when we visit and we feel part of something very special.
"We were happy for her to be filmed as we find Roots of Empathy so valuable that if this feature on TV means that even more schools bring it into their classrooms it’s been more than worth it."
Trainer Emma Kinrade, who works for the Department of Health, said: "This is my third year involved in Roots of Empathy. I wanted to be part of it because I was so impressed with the concept of the programme, especially bringing a baby into the classroom for a whole school year, and it has been absolutely fabulous watching the children watching the baby change over the year.
"At the end of each year the children make wishes for their baby's future. Without being prompted they wish the baby has lots of friends at school, is never bullied and has a happy life. These wishes are written down on a card and given to the baby. It is the best bit about the whole year and shows the children have learnt empathy."
Roots of Empathy originates from Canada and now involves 30 Island primary schools. It is a joint initiative between The Children’s Centre and the Departments of Education, Health, Social Care and Home Affairs.
The Tonight programme is on this evening (Tuesday) on ITV1 at 7.30pm.
