MOTHERS of children who attend a special needs school are fundraising for a wheelchair swing for their playground.

Most of the children who attend Pioneer School, in Basildon, are in wheelchairs.

Jodie Bacon, 38, of Whitmore Way, Basildon, has a 12-year-old son, Freddy, who goes to the school and suffers with Down’s syndrome, autism, and global development delay leaving him unable to walk or talk.

Freddy is also visually and hearing impaired.

Jodie said: “Freddy used to love the swings in parks, but he is now too big to fit in them and he cannot support himself in the regular bench swing.

“He loves the feeling of going back and forth and is a bit of a daredevil so the higher the better.

“To have a wheelchair swing at school would be great for him as well as a lot of the other children.”

The brightly coloured swing has a special platform that can take wheelchairs - allowing children of most ages to be able to use the swing.

The cost of the wheelchair and its installation does not come cheap with a price tag of around £8,000 - meaning the group of mothers known as Parents of Pioneer, are doing all they can to raise as much as possible.

The children will be taking part in a sponsored one-mile walk on June 14, with some children being given the chance to attempt two miles.

The student who raises the most sponsorship money will receive a special prize from the Parents of Pioneer, and everyone who takes part will get a medal.

Pioneer will also be holding a summer fete on July 7 from 10am until 2pm.

The school is looking for stalls, games and entertainment that would be interested in taking part of the fete.

If you are interested in having a stall, email pioneerparents123@gmail.com

If you would like to donate to the fundraising total, please visit justgiving.com/crowdfunding/parentsofpioneer

They have currently raised just more than £500, but are desperate to get the rest of the money as soon as possible so the children can enjoy the swing quickly.