THE developer behind a controversial housing estate at Ridgeway Farm has given a cash donation to a nearby primary school.

Taylor Wimpey won an appeal to build 700 homes at Ridgeway Farm, on the north west edge of Swindon, despite widespread opposition at the time.

Some of the work has now been completed and a new primary school is due to open its doors for next September’s intake of pupils.

But until then children from Ridgeway Farm will attend schools in Purton, including St Mary’s Church of England Primary School and Bradon Forest Secondary School.

And the developer has now donated £200 to help provide a new storytelling chair for St Mary’s School.

Vanessa Robinson, the treasurer of the school’s Parent Teacher Association, said: “The new chair is a rustic wooden throne with a high back and arms, surrounded by semi-circular benches.

“Pupils can sit around and enjoy listening to a teacher, a visitor or fellow pupil during storytime.

“It has been installed in the woodland area just next to the playground, which has trees, logs and more habitat areas.”

The concept of the storytelling chair was dreamt up by St Mary’s School headteacher Naomi Clarke as a way of encouraging pupils to read more.

“The school has engaged in an initiative to really push reading skills, and we’re taking part in lots of different projects to get the children more involved,” she said.

“We’ve had activities such as older pupils reading to younger year groups and children from senior schools coming in to read to our pupils.

“Plus we’ve had authors visiting the school and we’ve purchased new books for the library, so the children have more up to date literature.

“The children really enjoy these activities and it’s improved the reading level across the entire school.

“So Taylor Wimpey’s donation for the storytelling chair will be really beneficial.

“The storytelling chair is a wonderful facility that pupils in all year groups can enjoy.

“It’s providing an effective way of making reading more interesting, as we are taking pupils outside to a new learning environment and doing things a little differently.

“We’d like to say a big thank you to Taylor Wimpey for their generous donation – it’s greatly appreciated and will be put to good use.”

Taylor Wimpey says that new homes are still available to reserve at West Point.

Any interested buyers should visit the sales and information centre, located off Common Platt, Purton, Swindon, SN5 4JX.

It is open daily from 11am to 5.30pm.

Alternatively, the sales executive can be contacted on 01793 689066.

Information on developments across the region is available by calling 01454 628484 or by visiting www.taylorwimpey.co.uk.