A new progressive independent school has received New South Wales Education Standards Authority approval to open in downtown Lismore.

Founder of the Living School John Stewart said he had received notification verbally and was due to receive the certificate of registration this week.

“As soon as I get that, I’ll begin organising community engagement meetings, then there will be teacher engagement meetings, teacher training and enrollment applications ahead of opening next year,” Mr Stewart told the Lismore App.

“I'm registered from kindergarten to year 8 so I've got the option to fulfill that however I'd like to start with a five, six, seven, eight program to begin with, and maybe a kindergarten so I can grow.

“I'm waiting to see what the interest is.”

Work on renovations to the building on the corner of Conway and Little Dawson streets is already well underway to accommodate up to 60 students and a daycare facility.

Living School is the brainchild of Mr Stewart who has 25 years as an educator and was previously head of the Green School in Bali and headmaster of Tudor House in Moss Vale, Australia’s only stand-alone prep boarding-school for boys.

He is an author and has appeared on television on the Politically Incorrect Parenting Show, the Kerry-Ann show and the Today show.

The focus of the Living School's individualised learning program is “a unique curriculum developed to support creative, critical and social thinking”.

Mr Stewart’s plan is to use the Lismore campus as a pilot for other Living Schools across the region and further afield.