A free school for special needs children will open in Chatham in September 2014.

The Inspire Special Free School will initially have 40 places and be based next to Silverbank Park in Churchill Avenue.

Pupil numbers will eventually rise to 80.

The Oaks building at that school will become a part of the free school, with the rest of the school being built using funds from the government.

Medway Council has worked in partnership with three head teachers in submitting the bid to the Department for Education: Dr Gary Holden, of Hundred of Hoo, Kim Johnson of Bradfields and Andy Reese of Greenacre.

They will appoint a head early next year.

Head of children’s services Mike O’Brien said it was “fantastic news”: “It’s going to give us quality provision for SEN children. We’re extremely excited that the bid has been accepted,” he said.

Free schools are set up by teachers, religious groups or charities and benefit from public funding.

Those who want to open a school have to prove there is a need for it in the location they propose.

Like academies, free schools are outside of local authority control.

They can manage their own curriculum and budget, and have greater flexibility over teaching hours and term dates.

The programme is one of the most noteworthy school reforms of Education Secretary Michael Gove.

Today his department announced that applications for 102 free schools have been approved. There are 81 already open.

Some have been praised by parents, but teaching unions have said many have opened in areas where there is no need for them.