Despite the difference in their size, brother and sister, Nathaniel and Eleri, are actually twins. They were born very early and weighing one pound four ounces, and two pounds 12 ounces, they were not really expected to survive.

However the twins, whose parents believe they are true miracles, not only survived, they thrived and, much to their whole family’s amazement, they started primary school together at Goodrich this week.

Mum, Katie Bateman, told the Ross Gazette that when they were first born, the worry and struggle to keep the twins going meant they never really went public. Now she feels that the time is right, as they are ready for school, to share their story with other people.

Katie said so many people ask why Eleri is so much smaller than her twin that she feels she needs to let people know. Being born so early, and so small could have caused major developmental complications but, in fact Eleri’s size is the only outstanding issue caused by her early delivery. Both twins have completed years of medical tests, and therapy, including recent neurological tests, and they surprised everyone with how well they did.

When Katie and her husband, Andrew discovered they were expecting twins in 2012, they decided to move to Ross-on-Wye to be near family. The night before the move Katie went into labour, when she was just 22 weeks pregnant.

The labour stopped and Katie was prescribed bed rest which went on for the next seven weeks. However at 29 weeks, labour started again.

At this point Katie was in the Gloucester Royal Hospital as they were aware that one of the twins, Eleri, was having trouble, and she was not expected to survive. The twins were in separate amniotic sacs and the one containing Eleri ruptured and the ‘waters’ inside it leaked out. When the twins arrived they were immediately taken to intensive care and then the Special Care Baby Unit.

Although he was small Nathaniel was soon thriving, although he had to be placed under blue lights to help with jaundice. Eleri spent 12 weeks in Gloucester Royal and her first two years were spent in and out of hospital with chest infections and regular appointments.

Both twins have also had plenty of physiotherapy, as well as speech and language therapy. However, Eleri has not had any of the issues her family was expecting, they never thought she would be able to integrate in mainstream education. She attended Oak House Nursery in Ross with Nathaniel, which they both loved, and have been looking forward to starting school.

Katie said they are thrilled to be joining their big sister, Seren, who is already a pupil at Goodrich. They are very sociable and have lots of friends, Nathanial loves superheroes and swimming while Eleri wants to be a cook.

Despite their difference in size, Katie said Eleri is very feisty and can be the bossy one.

And although Eleri is still smaller than Nathanial, she now weighs 28 pounds and Nathaniel is 37 pounds.