New Sunderland school opens to help autistic pupils reach their 'full potential'

Sunderland Echo readers helped Thornhill Park School open back in 1980 when they raised more than £25,000 so that a group of parents could buy the original premises.

Now the school, which educates young people between the ages of five-19, needs the support of the city again as part of our All To Play For campaign to buy a similar sum of specialist playground equipment for its new home.

Thornhill Park has moved around a mile away to Portland Road, Plains Farm, where it will be able to increase its roll from 45 to 75.

Dignitaries were given a tour of the new facilities at Friday’s ceremony.

John Phillipson, the chief executive of the North East Autism Society (NEAS), which runs the school, said the building had “more space to take more children and provide them with the education we want to give them”.

He added: “You want to see the full potential of children come out and I think this is a great place to do that.”

Sunderland Central Labour MP Julie Elliott, whose office helped in negotiations with the Department for Education to buy the building, unveiled a plaque to mark the occasion.

She then joined Mr Phillipson, headteacher Christine Cave and three school pupils to plant a time capsule in the school courtyard.

Mrs Elliott said: “It was a group of parents who came together 40 years ago with the help of the Echo to set it up.

“That is where papers are really at their best, when they get the bit between their teeth and there is a local issue.

“We had it in recent years when the fire station was scheduled to be shut and we joined forces with the local paper to save the fire station.

“That is when local papers come into their own.

“Now we need money to get the playground equipment. There is another challenge around the corner.”

Guests also included Joy Yates, the Sunderland Echo’s editorial director, and the Mayor of Sunderland, Councillor David Snowdon, who praised the society for its work over the last 40 years.

He added: “They saw the need, met the need and continued to provide an advanced education and support for autistic people ever since.”

All To Play For aims to provide a jungle bridge, roundabouts, swings and slides as part of an adventure playground designed by pupils.

Among the fundraising events planned is NEAS’s Walk for Autism Acceptance at Herrington Country Park on Friday, April 17, at 11am.

Registration for the walk is via www.ne-as.org.uk/Event/walk-for-autism2020.

Cheques can be made out to the North East Autism Society and addressed to The Fundraising Team, All To Play For Appeal, Thornhill Park School, Portland Road, Sunderland, Tyne/Wear, SR3 1SS.

Online donations can be made at www.ne-as.org.uk/appeal/all-to-play-for.

:: If you are organising an event for All To Play For then please contact Gavin Ledwith at the Echo on (0191) 5017435 or via email at [email protected]