The Government ‘s initiative to open school grounds to children diagnosed with autism after school hours was such a success this summer that the initiative is being extended. It will now apply during the winter months as well, and more schools are to be involved in the project.

Evarist Bartolo, Minister for Education and Employment said that parents of autistic children and the Autism Parents Association had proposed the idea originally. They had felt it would provide open and yet safe spaces for their children to play and they had been proved right; feedback had been positive.

The Prime Minister’s wife, Mrs Michelle Muscat, who is Honorary Chairperson of the Association of Parents of Children with Autism, has championed this project. Having helped launch the scheme in the summer, she said parents with children diagnosed with autism faced challenges every day and through better management of resources over the summer period these challenges had been, to some extent, alleviated. It was important for all children to be able to play and burn off energy.

Parents wanted to know that their children were safe and could run around without thinking that they would run into danger or bother people that might not understand the needs of a child with autism.

These schools also provided parents with a place to meet other parents facing similar challenges and often served as a place where they could find support and share information.

Over the winter months primary schools in Dingli, Attard, Fgura, Marsaxlokk and Sannat, Gozo will be accessible after hours and at weekends. While the initiative is aimed at children diagnosed with autism the schools will allow other children, such as siblings and family friends, to join in the fun.

The schools that will be taking part in this scheme are St Nicholas College (Attard and Dingli), St Thomas More College (Marsaxlokk and Fgura A) on Sundays and Public Holidays and Sannat Primary in Gozo.

Opening times are Fridays 5.30pm to 8.30pm, Saturdays 2pm to and 5pm as well as Sundays and Public Holidays between 10am and 5pm.

During this morning’s press conference Mrs Muscat also took the opportunity to mention the Christmas card competition which was launched through Facebook in September. The Prime Minister and Mrs Muscat chose to have this year s Christmas cards designed by children with autism.

All entries should be submitted to the Association of Parents with Children with Autism by 31st October to the association’s address: ‘Christmas Art Work’, Autism Parents Association, PO Box 30, Marsa or Office of the Prime Minister, Castille.

The paintings of these children will be exhibited at St James Cavalier in the coming weeks and the final selection will comprise of six designs to be chosen as the Prime Minister’s and Mrs Muscat’s set of Christmas cards.

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