The move follows a successful trial last year at primaries in North Lanarkshire and is now being rolled across Scotland.

Charity chiefs at Action for Children have recruited more than 100 babies as "tiny teachers" in the programme adopted from Canada.

A parent and young child will visit selected primary schools for 30- minute sessions every month for a year to encourage primary 3 kids to interact in a nurturing manner.

The baby – from the age of three months – will be placed on a mat and left alone while pupils will be encouraged to sing songs and discuss how the tiny tot is feeling.

The programme is called Roots of Empathy and Louise Warde-Hunter, strategic director of children's services at the charity, says the aim is to reduce problem behaviour among youngsters.

She said: "Roots of Empathy teaches school children to understand their own feelings and the feelings of others by using a baby as the 'tiny teacher'.

"This raises levels of empathy among classmates, resulting in more respectful relationships and a dramatic reduction in levels of aggression among school children.

"We are proud to introduce Roots of Empathy in Scotland and would like to thank our partners in Scottish Government for their support.

"By increasing levels of 'emotional literacy' in children at a young age we can lay the foundation for safe and caring classrooms and, in the long-term, safe and caring societies."

Endorsed by the World Health Organisation and the Dalai Lama, independent evaluations in Canada found social aggression by children dropped by almost 40% with the Scottish project receiving cash backing from the Early Years Early Action Fund.

Scotland's Minister for Children and Young People Angela Constance said: "The initiative fits well with the Scottish Government's overall vision for the early years."

Fifteen authorities across Scotland are taking part in the year long programme, including North and East Ayrshire, West Dunbartonshire, North and South Lanarkshire and Inverclyde.

gordon.thomson@ eveningtimes.co.uk