A UNIQUE new forest school has opened its doors aiming to make "learning accessible for everyone" and help children who are not in mainstream education.

Rachel King, 48, has 25 years experience as a teacher but quit he role so she could focus on creating the new Raw Learning school based off Brays Lane, in Rochford.

The "forest school" offers a therapeutic alternative education for children aged between five and 16-years-old who have additional, or suspected additional needs, such as autism or ADHD.

Rachel, from Southend, is hoping the school will provide children and young people with the opportunity to engage and become more physically confident by connecting with nature and engaging with the outdoor world.

After opening the school on Friday, she said: “I am so excited to open this school. We believe every child has a human right to thrive despite their differences.

“It is a moderate learning difficulties complex set in nature. These differences often mean these children go on to be too highly represented in our mental health clinics or criminal justice system and we know how this can be prevented.

“This year we will only have 20 children in each of our session while we increase funding to build a proper centre to facilitate health and educational support for neurodivergent children and their families.

“We are delivering the opportunities to gain the skills for jobs for these young people by teaching so they can grow into confident self-sufficient adults.”

In the long term, Rachel hopes that these schools will be established in other places around the country.

Southend East and Rochford Labour MP, Bayo Alaba, also joined Rachel for the opening.

He said: “Breaking down barriers to opportunity is a huge priority for me here in the constituency.

“There are no quick fixes here, but I firmly believe that we need to move beyond the ‘one size fits all’ approach to education, especially when it comes to SEND provision. Rachel and Raw Learning are making this happen, offering a hands-on experience in an outdoor setting and delivering the services our young people need.

“It is a real privilege that this is being done for the first time in Rochford.”

Julie Gooding, chair of the Rochford health and wellbeing board, added: “This is so important and needed, it really is a precious opportunity for learning in the right environment for young people.

“I am fully supportive and hope that others see the benefits and value that this brings for suspected and diagnosed neurodivergent individuals, and that they get the desperately needed funding to continue their work.”