Sky News and Talk Sport presenter Jonny Gould and Hornsey and Wood Green MP Lynne Featherstone officially opened a new outdoor games area at TreeHouse School on Friday 1st April 2011. This new facility will offer a range of sports including football and basketball.
 
The special guests were invited to TreeHouse School to unveil the purpose built outdoor games area and take part in a penalty shootout with TreeHouse and Muswell Hill primary school pupils.
 
Jonny Gould stood in goal during the reverse inclusion session which aimed to encourage children without autism to mix and play with children with autism. The outdoor games area will also be available for use by pupils from other local schools.
 
The launch came on the eve of World Autism Awareness month, which started on Saturday 2nd April 2011. The outdoor games area was funded by Play Sport London, The Lord’s Taverners, London Marathon Trust and the Department for Education.
 
Lynne Featherstone MP for Hornsey and Wood Green, said:
 
“I am delighted to open TreeHouse School’s new outdoor games area because it is important for children with autism to have access to sport in a safe and secure environment. 
 
“As well as enriching the lives of TreeHouse’s pupils, other children at local schools will be able to use the sports ground because it is a community space. What children learn about each other when they are young stays with them their whole lives and this outdoor games area is the ideal opportunity to bring children together, regardless of whether they have autism or not.”
 
Dr Rowie Shaw, Chair of Governors at TreeHouse School, said:
 
“TreeHouse School is thankful for the support of our funders to finally make the new outdoor games area a reality. Health and fitness is at the core of our curriculum’s drive to improve the well being of our pupils and the outdoor games area will enhance this. We pride ourselves on being part of a wider community and look forward to opening the outdoor games area to other schools.”
 
Jonny Gould, Sky News and Talk Sport presenter, said:
 
“I am bowled over by TreeHouse School and its commitment and investment to making sport accessible for all its pupils. It is heartening to see the elevation of sport with the outdoor games area because I know how fun and rewarding playing sports and games can be for children.”