A former Wallingford primary headteacher has launched plans for a an independent school offering outdoor lessons.

Lee Ryman was headteacher of Fir Tree Junior School for nine years until she retired from there in September, 2010.

Now she has established a charity to run The Treehouse School in Cholsey, where primary pupils could be taught outdoors half the time.

Ms Ryman, 44, who lives in the village, has 20 years’ experience working with young pupils and made a bid for a publicly-funded free school which was rejected last year.

She says there are two locations being considered in the village and, once a deal has been struck for premises, the trust will register the new private school with the Department for Education.

Ms Ryman said the non- fee-paying establishment could accommodate 60 pupils aged four to 11 and could open as early as 2013.

She added: “The Department for Education said the size of the free school was not viable. So we decided to get charitable status and now have nine trustees with a huge range of educational expertise.

“John Coe, our trust chairman, is the chairman of the National Association for Primary Education and is an education adviser.

“We would not receive any public funding, so we are seeking funding through donations, sponsorship, trusts and grants and are thoroughly pursuing all options, including support from local organisations and individuals.”

Ms Ryman said she was supported by Sharon Julian, assistant head at Fir Tree Junior School where they worked for eight years.

Ms Ryman, who resigned from her headteacher’s post to set up the new school, added that she was concerned by the amount of tests for pupils in mainstream schools and worried the system was driven by Ofsted inspections.

She said: “In the new school, children will learn at their own developmental rate, with staff working in close partnership with parents to create a family ethos.

“I have been to Sweden to see how young children learn and there will be a huge emphasis at The Treehouse School on outdoor learning.

“The recipe will be an eclectic mix but we are trying to take in best practice from this country and abroad.”

Cholsey Parish Council chairman Mark Gray said: “I think this is a great idea and has real possibilities.

“With new housing coming on stream at the Fairmile housing development nearby, there is a very real issue about pressure on primary school places in the area.

“A new school like this would certainly relieve the pressure on places at Cholsey Primary School.”