The mother cat is only about a year old but recently has been pushing her 4 week kittens away when their trying to suckle.

The mother feeds in the kitchen whilst her kittens are in the front room.
Ive tried feeding her kittens wet food - and they lick it off my finger - but as soon as the mother has eaten her food, she comes straight over to the kittens bowl and eats theirs too!

Should I put the mother in a different room so she cannot get to her kittens until they've eaten or is this cruel?

The mother cat seems to be jealous when we stroke her kittens in front of her - yet we stroke her at the same time. I want them to get used to being handled.

Please help!

I think you are pushing it by trying to wean them before she does. I think she is trying to tell you that by eating the food you put down for them. Let nature take its course and you can do all you want with the kittens in due time.

As for the stroking, I think she is still trying to tell you that she is not ready yet.