An "equine assisted learning centre" has been approved for a Notton farm site.

Dorset Council has agreed the change of a farm building to equestrian use the creation of a riding arena at the Notton Farm site.

The application comes from Mrs Rebecca Maslen who has been offering sessions, using horses, for vulnerable children and young adults.

Her planning application had won the support of Maiden Newton Parish Council.

A letter from planning agents said: "The applicant wishes to operate an Equine Assisted Learning Centre (EALC) to facilitate learner led sessions for vulnerable children and young adults, based on natural horsemanship and herd-based observation and interaction. The learning outcomes will vary but will include a mixture of specific OCR qualifications and for others the experience at the facility will focus on having time to reflect and spend time in the natural environment.

"The proposed Equine Assisted Learning Centre will be a small-scale operation with the focus on 1:1 work for re-engagement for children who have become disengaged with education. The existing building has stabling for five horses, naturally limiting the number of sessions which will be available."

Documents submitted to Dorset Council say that Mrs Maslen has studied autism at university followed by other vocational training and is a qualified Special Educational Needs (SEN) advisor for Dorset Council specialising in providing assisted learning to children with special educational needs and providing support for their parents.

She is also affiliated to EAQ (Equine Assisted Qualifications) Ltd, who set and monitor quality standards for approved centres including staffing, animal welfare, policies and procedures.

Children requiring the use of the centre will be referred to the centre by Dorset Council who will also provide the majority of the funding to allow the sessions to happen.

Only three EAQ accredited centres currently exist in Dorset with the need for the provision of similar centres officially recognised. Two of the centres are located near Sturminster Newton with another near Milton Abbas, providing services to children in East Dorset.

The Notton centre is expected to provide services to children from West and South Dorset, including Weymouth and Dorchester.

The centre is expected to provide part-time employment for the applicant and one other member of staff, currently a volunteer.