Two mums have been invited to attend an interview with the Department for Education about their application to set up a free school for children with autism.

Donna Smith-Emes, 42, whose son Daniel, 13, is autistic, and her friend Sarah Aldridge, 41, whose nine-year-old daughter Amber has high-functioning autism, came up with the idea three years ago.

It was prompted by the fact there was only one site serving autistic children from the borough – Laleham Gap School, which is based on two sites in Broadstairs and Margate. It can take up to an hour to get there from Swale.

To help them realise their dream, they set up the parent-led group Friends of Aspire.

They applied to set up the school in May, but were told two months later that their application had been unsuccessful.

Despite the initial knock-back, they resubmitted their proposal in October and were recently contacted by the DfE, which asked them to meet department representatives at the end of January to discuss their plans in more detail.

If it gets the go-ahead this time, the school could open in September 2016.

Four potential sites in or near Sittingbourne have been included in the bid.

Two are existing buildings, while the others are on land that would need to be developed.

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

Speaking on behalf of the team, Mrs Smith-Emes, of Park Road, Sittingbourne, said: “We will know the outcome of our proposals during late spring.

“In the meantime, we’re asking people to fill in our survey to continue to prove demand for our school application. This is an imperative part of the free school process. Every response counts.”

The women run a free support group for parents and carers of children with autism or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.

Members meet at The Ypres Tavern, West Street, Sittingbourne, every third Wednesday of the month, and at The Orchards, Attlee Way, Milton Regis, usually on the first Friday of the month.