A mainstream school which caters for dyslexic children could be built in the district following a proposal by the Leeds and Bradford Dyslexia Association.

The group is currently on the lookout for a site somewhere on the border of Bradford and Leeds where the free school could be built.

It believes there is a need in the two cities for a school which provides a mainstream education tailored towards children with dyslexia.

Association chairman Pat Payne said the group hoped to find a site before it submits its final proposal to the Government.

She said: “The real issue is that there are not enough trained teachers in schools able to recognise dyslexia and, even if they were able to recognise it, to teach the children.

“We are keen that we have teachers in school that can deliver the proper education for dyslexic children.

“They don’t recognise that a child who is not succeeding may be dyslexic rather than a number of other things.”

Mrs Payne said the school would feature the most modern facilities on offer, with specialist teachers to offer a curriculum with special emphasis on literacy and numeracy.

She said the group had been looking at sites in Pudsey, but wanted somewhere on the border between the two cities.

The group aims to open the school for pupils between the ages of seven and 14, due to the information it has received from helpline calls. The school would also be open to children and young people with dyslexia as well as those without.

Mrs Payne said: “We want people to go on the site and register interest and send questionnaires in. We need more interest from outside our association.

“We know there is a need – what we need to do is make sure there’s a demand.

“So if people really believe this would help their children, they have got to come to us.”

A public meeting is expected to be held at the end of March which anybody interested in the school can attend.

For more information, visit the site labda.org.uk or e-mail labdafreeschool@gmail.com.