Animal-loving reception children have been nurturing some furry new classmates at Lady Lane Park School in Bingley.

Ducklings and chicks have hatched out of their eggs in their very own ‘maternity ward’ at the school.

Arriving from farms in Eldwick and Otley, the eggs were gently rocked in an incubator to replicate the conditions under a constant temperature.

Charlie Savage were among four and five-year-old pupils keeping track of their environment on charts and as hatching time approached they observed sounds from inside the eggs. The ducklings now get to take to a paddling pool in the playground and the chicks are being handled by the children as part of their lessons about life cycles.

Once they come of age, the animals will return to their original farms.

Pictures by Mike Simmonds