Families and Carers Zone
All the resources you need for when your daughter or son join National Star.
We know that it can be a hugely emotional time for parents and students when they join National Star. Parents of first year students often have mixed emotions. For example, you may feel apprehensive about your son or daughter becoming more independent or living away from home for the first time. In addition, you may feel anxious that staff may be unable to understand the complex needs of your child. You may also be feeling excited about what the future holds for your son or daughter. These are all perfectly understandable emotions.
We have years of experience in supporting families during this transitional time in your family’s life. We will be on hand to support you and your son or daughter at every stage. You’ll have lots of questions initially and we’ll do our best to answer them.
We have created a comprehensive Families and Carers Handbook to support the transition of students into college, providing essential guidance and resources to ensure a smooth and informed experience for everyone involved.
Families and Carers Handbook
Download now (2.4MB pdf)Families and Carers’ Forum
We’d encourage you to join our Families and Carers’ Forum, which meets regularly to discuss topics of common interest to National Star parents. In addition, the Forum, hosted on Zoom, gives parents, families and carers the chance to meet informally and get to know each other better. This is particularly helpful for parents or carers who wish to arrange day trips out or get togethers for students during college holidays.
Save the date!
Pop the dates of our next Families and Carers’ Forum meetings in your diary.
- Tuesday 14 January, 6 – 7.30pm
- Tuesday 25 February, 6 – 7.30pm
- Tuesday 8 April, 6 – 7.30pm
- Tuesday 17 June, 6 – 7.30pm
RSVP to parentforum@nationalstar.org
More dates coming soon.
In addition, we are staging a series of coffee and mince pie events at the end of the autumn term for parents, families and carers to get together with each other and our team members.
At Ullenwood, our festive get together is scheduled for Friday 20 December, between 3.30pm – 4.45pm.
At Hereford, our festive get together will take place at the Eveson Centre on 12 december, between 3.30pm – 4.45pm.
In Wales, a date for the festive get together has yet to be finalised and parents and carers of learners will receive an invitation shortly.
You may also wish to join the private Facebook group National Star ‘Life after College’ Parent and Carers Network. This group is the perfect space to share and receive information with other National Star parents and carers supporting their young people for life after college.
Student exceptional leave
In order for students to make the most of their time at National Star we expect them to have full attendance at college. However, we do understand, that due to illness or exceptional circumstances, parents or carers may need to request time away from college for their son or daughter. Please view our guidance and enter the form.
Student Resources
To help you support your son or daughter as they become more independent we have created a collection of resources to help you plan their time at National Star.
- Basic Social Story (Makaton)
- Basic Social Story (Widgit)
- Bespoke Transition In Social Story (Onsite)
- Bespoke Transition In Social Story (Offsite)
- Copy of Inventory
- My New College Social Story Guidance
- Now and Next Board
- Now and Next Transition Visuals
- Residential Visuals – Transition In Social Story
Education, Health and Care Plans
IPSEA
The Independent Parental Special Education Advice service is a charity that offers advice and support to parents of disabled children. Specifically, it runs regular masterclasses on the information and EHCP should contain, how to achieve that through annual reviews, re-assessments and appeals.
Contact a Family
A national charity for families with disabled children, providing information, advice and support.
Grants, Funding and Student bursaries
Disability Grants
A portal website that will signpost you to available grants for young people with disabilities.
You’re Welcome
Gloucestershire-based Barnwood Trust offers a number of grants to young people with disabilities.
Gloucestershire Disability Fund
The Gloucestershire Disability Fund provides grants to people with disabilities of all ages to enhance the lives of people living with a physical, sensory or learning disability.
The Family Fund
The Family Fund helps young people aged 18 to 24 years old living at home with small grants that can be used to purchase digital/computer and sports equipment, grants towards clubs or activities, transport and recreational activities. They also offer grants for young people with disabilities stating college or undertaking a vocational course.
Vulnerable Person and Discretionary Bursaries
Department for Education provide Further Education establishments with a set amount of funding annually for financial support to help students overcome barriers to education so they can remain in education.
These are the Vulnerable Person and Discretionary Bursaries. Click the links below for more information on what a Bursary can be awarded for and the financial eligibility criteria. Any questions please email bursary@nationalstar.org
Disability rights
Disability Rights UK
A national organisation working to strengthen the voices of people with a wide range of disabilities or health conditions.
Learning Disability Wales
An organisation working to create a better Wales for all people with a learning disability.
Support for families
Special Needs Jungle
Parent-led information, resources and informed opinion about children and young people with SEN, special needs, disability, health conditions and rare diseases.
NNPCF
The National Network of Parent Carer Forums is a network of over 150 Parent Carer Forums in England and is funded by central government.
Life after college
Transition planning
Foundation for People with Learning Disabilities
The Foundation for People with Learning Disabilities influences government and local authority policies and services so that they better meet the needs of people with learning disabilities, their families and carers.
Social care and housing
Foundation House
National Star’s long-term residential accommodation for people with physical and learning disabilities. It is based in Gloucester.
NHS
The National Health Service in England.
Employment
Remploy
A website that helps people with disabilities find work and has lots of useful online employment services.
Incluzy
Incluzy is the UK’s leading disability jobs board.
Guidance for employers
Even Break
An online job site that matches employers with disabled job seekers.
Business Disability Forum
A not-for-profit member organisation that makes it easier and more rewarding to do business with and employ disabled people.
Find out more and apply to National Star
If in in doubt, please don’t hesitate to ring our fantastic Admissions team on 01242 534928 / 527631 or send an email to admissions@nationalstar.org. They will be able to help you, point you in the right direction and share their experiences, enabling you to move forward.
Blogs
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Top tips to secure long-term accommodation
Susanne Jeffries, Head of Long-Term Living at National Star, shares her thoughts on how parents and carers can successfully secure long-term supported accommodation for their sons and daughters.
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Opening the door to festive learning
Joanne Kingsbury-Elia, Director of Learning and Support at National Star, throws light on the educational benefits behind our hotly contested Christmas tradition.