Families and Carers Zone

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 comprehensive Families and Carers handbooks 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’ 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 20 January – Mental capacity
• Wednesday 22 April – Wills / Power of attorney
• Monday 18 May – Wills / Power of attorney

RSVP to [email protected]

Previous forum meeting presentations

• • January 2025 – Healthy relationships
  • March 2025 – Supporting physical health and wellbeing
  • April 2025 – Planning for the future
  • July 2025 – End of year highlights
  • September 2025 – Welcome
  • October 2025 – Transition presentation // Transition Q&A Forum

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 families and carers supporting their young people for life after college.

Student menus

Nutrition and hydration for students with disabilities is a complex issue which requires a personalised approach. We understand that food is not only nutrition. Mealtimes are a social occasion, a time for enjoyment and a pastime, especially for those who cannot access many hobbies. Food can also be a comfort to those eating and a display of care from those preparing.

We can do tasters to encourage students to try new foods and different textures. Most residential students will eat their breakfast in their residence, enjoy lunch in the StarCafé and have an evening meal in either their residence or StarCafé.

Wherever possible, students are encouraged to practice their food preparation skills in Life Skills sessions as part of their education timetable.

Residential students can be supported to shop and make some of their own food to promote independence.

We have looked at the nutritional value and textures of all meals and fluids offered on the menu. Menus change weekly, on a four–week rolling programme.

Lunch menu

• W/c 12 January

Dinner menu

• W/c 12 January

Halal menu

• W/c 12 January

Gluten free and dairy free menu

• W/c 12 January

Extra-curricular activities for Ullenwood students

View our weekday and weekend activities

View our Residential weekend activities

Life after college

From the moment you join us, we work with you and your family or supporters to shape a personalised plan for life beyond college. Our careers programme is designed to help you explore a wide range of future options that match your aspirations and needs.

Each year, we host life after college transition events at Ullenwood, Hereford and in Wales. These events give families and carers the chance to meet exhibitors, connect with alumni and discover what life can look like after National Star. We’ll be announcing our 2026 event dates soon.

In the meantime, you can explore our life after college information and access resources from previous transition talks held at Ullenwood.

• • Ullenwood – Cavalry Healthcare presentation – October 2025
  • Ullenwood – GPW Tax and Law & EP Seminars presentation – October 2025
  • Ullenwood – Guideposts Trust presentation – October 2025

Former student stories

We’re here to help every young person build the skills and confidence they need for life beyond college.
Whether it’s moving into paid employment, transitioning to independent or supported living, or continuing their studies at a mainstream college, our students go on to achieve incredible things.

Read more about former student stories

How did you hear about National Star?

We’d love your input to help us better understand how parents and carers find out about National Star. This short survey takes less than 5 minutes to complete.

Take the survey

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.

Community learning

If you’re aged 19 or over and have a disability, there may be a part-time learning opportunity at National Star that’s just right for you. We guarantee a warm welcome, lots of encouragement and the chance to develop some exciting new skills!

View the programme

Spotlight on the admissions and assessment team

National Star receives hundreds of applications from prospective students each year. But how much effort goes into deciding whether we can meet the needs of each applicant?

Student Resources

We’ve created a collection of student resources designed to support you and your young person on their journey into National Star. These materials will help guide and ease their transition into college life, providing valuable tools to help you plan and prepare for their time with us.

• 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.

Additional Learning Needs

Additional Learning Needs Toolkit
This toolkit helps parent and carers understand the additional learning needs (ALN) system in Wales and the support available for children and young people.

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 [email protected]

• Download the Bursary application form
• Read the Vulnerable Person and Discretionary Bursaries Policy

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 [email protected]. They will be able to help you, point you in the right direction and share their experiences, enabling you to move forward.