An application to set up a free school for children with autism has been submitted to the Department for Education (DoE) for a second time.

Donna Smith-Emes, 42, whose son Daniel, 13, is autistic, and her friend Sarah Aldridge, whose eight-year-old daughter Amber has high-functioning autism, came up with the idea to create the facility three years ago.

There is currently only one place which serves children from the borough, Laleham Gap School which is based on two sites in Broadstairs and Margate and it can take students up to an hour to get there.

To help them realise their dreams, the mums set up the parent-led group Friends of Aspire plus a school team which consists of experts, senior leadership educationalists, school recruitment advisers and occupational and speech and language therapists.

They applied to set up the facility in May but received a letter two months later saying it had been unsuccessful.

Despite the initial knock back they resubmitted their proposal last Wednesday.

If it gets given the go-ahead this time round it could open in September 2016.

Four potential sites in or near Sittingbourne have been included in the bid. Two are existing buildings which would be transformed into a school. The others are land which would need to be developed.

It is not known how much it will cost to set up, but the funding will come from central government.

Speaking on behalf of the team, Mrs Aldridge, 41, of Gaze Hill Avenue in Sittingbourne, said: “Naturally, we were disappointed that our application was declined. However, it has made us even more determined to reapply.

“The feedback was that it was one of the best bids they’d seen but we didn’t have enough Kent County Council commissioned places [for children with statements of special educational needs].

“We’ve been working hard and now have the required amount. We’ve also strengthened our team and got more professionals on board so we’re confident about our application.”

It will take up to eight weeks to hear if they have been successful.

For details about Aspire Free School visit www.aspirefreeschool.co.uk