Wheels in motion for RBWM school visits from new mobile sensory bus

Schools in the Royal Borough will soon be the first to trial a mobile sensory bus as part of an education scheme piloted by the Stand Out for Autism charity.

The charity, founded by Bell Street resident Holly Clarke, converted a bus into a sensory unit for children and adults with autism and launched the facility in November 2024.

Their primary goal was to introduce the sensory room to mainstream schools in the Royal Borough throughout the year, offering students with autism an escape.

Holly told the Advertiser that a new pilot education sector scheme will launch after the Easter holidays, with the bus visiting schools one day a week during the summer term.

Berkshire College of Agriculture (BCA), Dedworth Infant and Junior schools and Beech Lodge are the schools involved so far, but the charity still has space for two more.

“We’re doing the pilot scheme before we roll it out in all schools to make sure the process is watertight to deliver a good, all-singing, all-dancing package,” Holly said.

“We will iron it out before we launch to the 65 schools in our borough, so this time between now and summer is pivotal.”

The bus has been kitted out with an interactive sound and light panel, hanging fibre optic lights and an infinity panel that changes colour and speed.

The facility is for all ages, and Holly said it was ‘absolutely critical’ that BCA plans to use the bus before and after the upcoming exam season.

“You have teenagers at Beech Lodge, the older students at BCA and real little ones at Dedworth, and I think that’s important,” she added.

“If we can help one student make a difference in their exams because they have the bus there, my work is done.”

Holly started the charity in 2015 after her son Harry was diagnosed with autism and verbal dyspraxia.

“He was three and he’s 14 now, so the scope of what I’m looking at as a parent is very different," she said.

“We used to do youth and holiday clubs, but it tended to steer towards primary school ages. Now I feel [offering] support in adulthood is important.”

Adam Upton has come on board as a permanent staff member who will drive the bus to schools and the packed schedule of community events.

This year’s first outing is the Leisure Focus Big Open Weekend at Braywick and Windsor Leisure Centre on April 5 and 6.

Events will partially subsidise the estimated £20,000 yearly bus running costs, including a preloved sale at Stripes Bar at Maidenhead United Football Club tomorrow (Saturday) with ‘lots of lovely items for sale to help raise money for the project’.

“We want to be cost-effective, but we also need to be sustainable, otherwise we can’t keep delivering,” added Holly.

Then Stand Out for Autism will host its first ‘inclusive for all’ Easter Family Fun Day on April 12 at Boyne Hill Cricket Club.

A bouncy castle, singers, stalls, sensory arts and crafts, an Easter egg hunt and mini funfair rides will be offered with the sensory bus – and the team are still seeking entertainers and stall pitches for £15 plus a raffle donation.

Their 2025 community event schedule includes FiFest, Windsor Pride and the Maidenhead Big Weekender, and is still open for bookings.

Visitors love the bus conversion, and Holly has seen the facility ‘embraced really well’.

“This was a project I wanted to do for a long, long time, and I thought, is it ever going to happen? So it’s amazing to see.

“I’m hoping now we’re getting out and about, at schools, and with summer coming – it will grow tenfold.”