A Sunderland mum told her daughter would never talk or read has backed an appeal to help her autistic school

Brooke Nacca’s parents were told that that she would never talk or read after she was diagnosed with autism shortly before she turned three.

Now she is thriving at Thornhill Park School, which has just moved to new premises at Plains Farm, Sunderland, with teachers confident that she can achieve her dream of becoming a vet.

The Sunderland Echo has joined forces with the North East Autism Society (NEAS), which runs the school, to launch our new All To Play For appeal to buy £25,000 worth of sensory playground equipment to stimulate pupils.

Mum Faye Nacca, 40, who is full-time carer for Brooke, nine, said: “Sensory playground equipment would bring out the social side of the kids, which they can really struggle with, and make them even more confident.”

Mrs Nacca, who is married to David, 41, a call centre worker, and lives in Albany, Washington, said her nine-year-old daughter has started to initiate conversations since attending Thornhill Park.

She added: “Before starting at Thornhill, every day she’d go off to nursery crying, but now she just walks into school, no bother at all, loves her lessons, and she comes home every night and tells us about her day.”

Thornhill Park School uses bespoke curriculums, activities and programmes, delivered by highly-trained staff, to get to know each child in their care and help them achieve and fulfil their potential.

It opened in 1980 after a previous Echo appeal saw readers smash a £25,000 target to help the society buy its original Thornhill Park home.

Now the Sunderland community is asked to help our new All To Play For appeal.

Among the 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.