An issue has arisen around what to do with children who don't fit into the cookie cutter environment of our education system.

Mt. Hobson Middle School in Auckland, which caters for neuro-diverse children, faces closure after Education Minister Chris Hipkins  turned down not one, but two applications to fund the school, saying there are existing supports for all learners in existing state schools.

Chief Executive of Autism New Zealand Dane Dougan told Kerre McIvor his organisation would like to see investment in the education sector that will allow parents the freedom to send their kids to whichever school they choose, regardless of their child's learning needs.

"We need to look at systemic change. There needs to be training on autism at teacher training college, and even wider than that obviously."

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