New Free School in Maidenhead Secures Cash Boost

A new free school in Maidenhead which is catering for children and young people with autism has received a cash injection from a leading housebuilder.

The Forest Bridge School, which has been founded by five mothers who all have children with autism, opened its doors for the first time on Wednesday – 18 months after first launching its application to form with the Department for Education.

Now the school has received a financial boost of £1,000 from Persimmon Homes North London’s Community Champions, a project which sees a pot of £24,000 donated to local groups and charities.

Forest Bridge School is due to be based at the former Oldfield Primary School site on Chiltern Road for the next two years and has opened its doors with 38 pupils. The school hopes to move to the Berkshire College of Agriculture by 2017, and has further plans to expand the number of pupils to 96.

The first students at the school have been taken from areas including the Royal Borough of Windsor & Maidenhead, Bracknell Forest, South Bucks, Oxfordshire and Slough.

Jane Balmer, one of the school’s founders and the chair of the Friends of Forest Bridge School, said: “It’s wonderful news that we have received this funding from Persimmon Homes North London and it’s going to make a huge difference in what we are able to provide for the children as we look to establish the school.

“The money will go towards helping us to purchase sports equipment and bikes for our students and help give the children the opportunity to enjoy their education and reach their full potential, both socially and academically.

“We spoke about trying to form the school because we were aware there wasn’t a school which specialised in educating children with autism within around 90 minutes of us. A lot of hard work has gone in to reaching this point and everyone involved is very proud that the school has now opened.”

Greg Kaye, head of sales for Persimmon Homes North London, said: “We are delighted to be supporting the Forest Bridge School which will make a massive difference to the community.

“It’s been a huge effort to open the school and we hope our funding will greatly benefit the pupils.”

Persimmon Homes’ Community Champions is a year-long programme with £750,000 to be spread across the housebuilder’s 26 regions. Groups and charities who have already worked hard to raise funds themselves can apply for match funding of up to £1,000.

To apply for funding, visit www.persimmonhomes.com/charity