Building Focus, Confidence, and Thinking Skills Through Chess

At Puddletown Chess, we believe chess is more than a game. It is a tool for building focus, patience, confidence, and structured thinking that carries into school and everyday life.

These scholarships are designed to remove financial barriers and make it easier for students to access consistent, high-quality chess instruction in a supportive environment. As part of that mission, we are offering five training scholarships for students connected through Bright Horizons ABA, an organization that supports children with autism and related developmental needs.

Why This Partnership Matters

Many of the skills developed through chess closely overlap with the goals families work on every day through therapy and learning support:

Sustained attention and focus
Turn-taking and waiting
Impulse control and planning ahead
Problem-solving with structure
Handling wins, losses, and mistakes in a healthy way

Through our work at Puddletown, we have seen that chess can be especially powerful when introduced thoughtfully and taught with patience, encouragement, and repetition.

This scholarship initiative reflects a shared belief between Puddletown and Bright Horizons ABA that children learn best when skills are reinforced across multiple settings, not in isolation.

About the Scholarships

We are offering five full training scholarships for students referred through Bright Horizons ABA.

Each scholarship includes:

Scholarships are eligible for Levels 1, 2, 3, and 3+
Access to Puddletown’s structured chess training program
Small-group or guided sessions designed to support focus and confidence
A welcoming, low-pressure learning environment
Instruction that emphasizes progress and effort, not competition

These scholarships are intended for students who may benefit from additional support around attention, regulation, or social interaction while learning chess.

Who These Scholarships Are For:

These scholarships are intended for:

Students currently connected with Bright Horizons ABA

Families interested in using chess as a complementary skill-building activity

Children who enjoy games, puzzles, or hands-on learning

Beginners, early-stage and mid-level chess learners

"No prior chess experience is required."

A Shared Commitment to Growth

This scholarship program reflects what Puddletown cares about most:

making learning accessible, supporting diverse learners, and building skills that last beyond the chessboard.

We are grateful to Bright Horizons ABA for partnering with us to make this possible, and we look forward to welcoming these students into the Puddletown community.

How to Learn More or Apply

Families interested in these scholarships can start by learning more about Bright Horizons ABA and their work with children and families.

Visit Bright Horizons ABA: https://brighthorizonsaba.net/

Puddletown will handle onboarding and scheduling once students are identified.

“Interested in supporting scholarships or community partnerships like this? Reach out to us to learn how you can help expand access to chess education.”