A new specialist dyslexia school is being developed in Somerset and the head of therapy, who lives in Shepton Mallet, says she is excited by the opportunities ahead for pupils.

Claire Thomas will be the head of therapy at The Levels School in Ashcott, which will open in September once it has received Department for Education (DfE) approval.

It is being developed following the sudden and unexpected closure of Shapwick School at the end of March.

Bradley Middleton, a member of staff that worked in providing pastoral support to the students at Shapwick School, has secured some investment and assembled a small team of individuals qualified to deliver specialist education to children with dyslexia and similar learning differences.

One of these is Claire, who is looking forward helping to to mould the school from the start into what they believe the pupils need.

She told Shepton Mallet Nub News: "We have a weekly staff meeting over Zoom where we get to discuss our ideas with the whole team and we are really trying to focus on making the school as child centred as possible.

"I am the head of therapy, so for me it means that we get to make therapy an integral part of the school with social skills lessons and fine motor skills sessions happening as part of the curriculum.

"We are also looking forward to the opportunity to do some research at The Levels School into a program we have created to support children with Auditory Processing Disorder."

Claire used to be the head of therapy at Shapwick School and worked closely with Bradley on supporting a lot of the students who had anxiety or mental health difficulties.

"Bradley called me about two weeks after Shapwick closed and said he was planning to open a school," she said.

"The moment he told me about the school and the ethos he wanted, mixed with the enthusiasm he showed, made me really excited about joining him.

"Bradley really understands the kids and he has pulled together a team of teachers and therapists who also show great empathy and understanding of our students too.

"I think one of the things I am most excited about is working with the team to make these students have a positive experience of school."

Claire is hoping that the word spreads about how strong they are planning on making the therapy department at The Levels School.

She said: "We currently have a team of four therapists - two occupational therapists and two speech and language therapists, including myself.

"Therapy is an critical part of the school, the teachers, parents and students really value it. It is very rare to have an on-site therapy department in a school and we are really lucky as we do one-to-one sessions of therapy and get to work closely with the teaching team.

"I think this is a real positive of the school as we are in the classrooms, staff room and supporting at break times so if teachers have questions or students need support we are on-site ready to help."

The Levels School, which plans on taking students from the Shepton Mallet area, will be an independent specialist day school offering education and pastoral care to students with learning differences.

Dyslexic himself, it is Bradley's aim is that the school will encompass "a culture of inclusivity where all students respect and are respected, learning through enquiry and discovery, using a multi-sensory approach, capturing interest and inspiring natural curiosity and creativity".

He has secured a site for The Levels School at Etonhurst, on Bath Road in Ashcott, which was previously a boarding house for Millfield School from 1960 to 2002, and has since been a private residence.

The school will look over the Somerset Levels, which is where it has taken its name from.

With the support of a small number of teachers and therapists from Shapwick School as well as a number of friends, family and other contacts, Bradley's initial vision is fast becoming a reality.

Once on board, a core group of specialist qualified staff started to develop Bradley's vision and began writing the policies needed to apply for Department for Education (DfE) registration.

Bradley said: "It is amazing how much work has been done behind the scenes by such a dedicated team of professionals.

"This is all the more impressive without being able to meet face to face due to social distancing measures and the back drop of the coronavirus.

"The Levels School has become a labour of love driven by individuals passionate about providing specialist education to the vulnerable individuals that have come to rely and trust in them.

"As we wait for DfE approval we are planning the minimal conversions Etonhurst needs, aiming to welcome children to the school as soon as the autumn term starts or whenever schools are allowed to reopen, whichever is sooner."