A team of contractors is working pro bono to deliver a £3m new SEND school in Rotherham.

The work will redevelop Hilltop School, a special educational needs school supporting 180 children with complex needs and disabilities.

Delivered in partnership with Yorkshire Children’s Charity through its Great Yorkshire Build initiative, the work will replace temporary, cramped buildings with modern, purpose-built facilities designed for pupils’ complex learning and accessibility needs.

And the project will bring together more than 50 Yorkshire-based construction firms, working collaboratively, and offering their services for free, to deliver the project with a DIY SOS-style effort that sets a benchmark for social value within the construction sector.

The first contractor on the site is Henry Boot Construction, which will begin work on a full site reconfiguration to improve access as well as  build three new classrooms and a rebound therapy room.

The scheme brings together more than 50 Yorkshire-based construction firms, working collaboratively to deliver the project with a DIY SOS-style effort that sets a benchmark for social value within the construction sector.

Ian Gresser, head of preconstruction at Henry Boot Construction, said: “Our main contractor duties are to be delivered free of charge, including our preliminaries and site management. We have also received huge support and discounts from our dedicated supply chain, resulting in costs to the charity being a fraction of what they would be on the open market.

“Being part of this milestone project makes us incredibly proud. It isn’t just a refurbishment; it’s a complete transformation that will make a lasting impact on children and families across the region.

“It’s an outstanding example of what can be achieved when our industry unites behind a cause to drive meaningful social change.

“It’s construction at its most purposeful and we’re especially grateful to our supply chain partners who have also stepped forward to help make this possible.

Hilltop School is part of the Nexus Multi Academy Trust and supports children and young people aged two to 19 with severe and complex learning difficulties.

The school was previously featured in the BBC’s SEND Help documentary in 2023, which highlighted the crisis facing the sector and the urgent need for better facilities.

Charlotte Farrington, chief executive and founder of Yorkshire Children’s Charity, said: “Every child deserves access to education by right, not a privilege fought for by desperate families.

“Thanks to the incredible Yorkshire construction community, this will soon be a reality for children at Hilltop.”

The project is due for completion in September 2026.