Natspec Award Winner 2020: Inter-disciplinary working

National Star won the highly coveted Natspec award for inter-disciplinary working for its approach to meeting the needs of young people with complex disabilities.

The Natspec Award for Inter-disciplinary Working recognised National Star’s ‘Right Time, Right Place’ project, which was introduced in 2017 after a curriculum review. It brought together the key roles and responsibilities of tutors and personal learning coordinators to create a brand new role – the personalised learning coordinator tutor (PLCT).

The role was designed to meet the needs of National Star’s increasingly complex cohort of learners with Profound and Multiple Learning Difficulties, who require a consistent approach to learning and a holistic programme that isn’t divided by classroom, residence or community.

The PLCTs worked closely with residential and therapy teams, which enabled them to not only deliver effective learning, but also improve the communication, long-term plans and transition for the students they are working with. The emotional wellbeing of learners improved, and those with highly complex disabilities were able to take part in the full range of college experiences, including a ski experience in Andorra.

Judges said: ‘The project has made great progress for learners, staff, related therapy professionals, parents, community links and progression for the learners using RARPA (Recognising and Recording Progress and Achievement).’

Following the success of an initial trial with ten students at Ullenwood, the project expanded to include both residential and day learners and has been rolled out to our day colleges in Hereford and Wales.