I wish to raise an anomaly to do with the age at which pupils in special education schools complete their education.

Special schools are classified as primary schools. It is intended to provide an education to children and young people with special educational needs from the age of four years until the end of the school year in which they reach their 18th year. I was contacted by the parents of a young man who is 17. He was in a mainstream primary school but was then diagnosed with moderate to severe autism and it was deemed that he would be more appropriately educated in a special school. He went into that special school, but he was then informed at the beginning of his fourth year that he would have to leave the school at the end of this year because he turns 18 next summer. The family have appealed this decision but they have to wait until April for this appeal to be heard, which is quite late in the year, particularly for an autistic child, who does not know what is going to happen and who needs certainty and routine.

Most children start school at the age of five and most complete 14 years in school, with eight in primary school and six in secondary school if they do transition year, which most do. That leaves them approaching 19 years of age when they finish school. It is unfair that children in a special educational setting should have to leave at 18. I ask that we write to the Minister for education and the Minister of State with responsibility for special education to ask them to look into this. Instead of having to appeal the situation every year, if a child wants to remain until they are 19, for example, they should be able to do so.

I taught in a mainstream school. I can recall a student celebrating their 21st birthday while in school. It was a student who had gone through the mainstream system, but had additional needs and had repeated school years somewhere along the way. They were allowed to continue until they completed their education, even though they were at the age of 21. There is no age restriction in any other school, and I do not think it is fair to have it in a special school. I ask that we contact the Minister on this issue.