National Star College

National Star College
  • Local Offer

We are an outstanding (CQC 2017, Ofsted 2012) specialist college providing personalised learning and transition services for people with disabilities. We work with students with complex physical, learning, sensory and communication difficulties and acquired disabilities.

We offer full and part time, day and residential places, 36-52 week places, focusing on transition and achieving individual goals. Our college is a vibrant, inclusive and active environment – students have a wide range of abilities, come to us from varied social and ethnic backgrounds and participate in a wide range of community activities.

Who to contact

Contact Name
Admissions Team
Telephone
01242 527631 01242 527631
E-mail
enquiries@nationalstar.org
Website
Website
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Where to go

Name
National Star College
Address
Ullenwood
Cheltenham
Gloucestershire
Postcode

GL53 9QUGet directions to GL53 9QU

Notes

Our main campus is in Cheltenham where we offer day and residential placements, we also have provisions in Hereford and Wales both of which are day provision only. We are a national and International provider.

The National Star College has many years’ experience of working with people with limited mobility. Approximately 75% of learners are wheelchair users.

All student areas are accessible for people who use wheelchairs including a ramped stage, hoists in some class rooms and in all accommodation areas, high low tables in most areas, specialist equipment where necessary. All college transport is accessible for people who use wheelchairs.

Availability

Age Ranges
Other notes
Activities: - Art and Craft - Dancing - Gardening - Media - Multi-Activity - Music - Sensory Experiences - Social - Sports - Swimming - Toys and Equipment - Youth Theatre

Related Links

Local Offer

Description

We have outstanding multi-disciplinary support, assistive technologies and equipment plus excellent facilities. These include sensory, therapeutic, residential and supported work environments. Our charity also supports students with longer term accommodation and occupation options. Contact us for a visit to find out more or visit our website www.nationalstar.org.

We use a variety of communication and engagement support methods. These are embedded across the curriculum and throughout the learners’ day to day activities and include, Intensive interaction, Makaton, PECS, Visual Timetable, Objects of Reference, AAC devices, Tablets and other assistive technology, specialist support from Speech and Language therapy, IT access and technical support for communication devices.

We offer information and advice and guidance using a number of different media and in different formats. Our website offers a good starting point and will signpost prospective students and their parents or carers to other sources of information.

We support and facilitate an active Parent and Carer Forum within the college.

We have a transition team comprising of a careers advisor and housing specialist who work with learners and their Personalised Learning Mentors to plan for their future living and occupational destinations.

Prospective students are encouraged to attend a college visit day with their parents. Students are offered a multi-disciplinary assessment with their parents or main carer where they have the opportunity to meet with a variety of members of the college team.

Learners are inducted into college over a number of days and careful consideration is given to the views and wishes of them and their parents. Parents are given contact details in college and frequency and method of communication is agreed at admission.

Contact Name
Alice Dewa
Contact Telephone
01242 527631
Contact Email
adewa@nationalstar.org
Links
National Star College website
Local Offer Age Bands
16-18 (Transitions into Adulthood)
18-25 (Young Adults)
SEN Provision Type
Specialist

SEND Local Offer Form

Who is your service for?
Specialist
Local Offer Age Bands
16-18 (Transitions into Adulthood)
18-25 (Young Adults)
How accessible is your service?

The National Star College has many years’ experience of working with people with limited mobility. Approximately 75% of learners are wheelchair users.

All student areas are accessible for people who use wheelchairs including a ramped stage, hoists in some class rooms and in all accommodation areas, high low tables in most areas, specialist equipment where necessary. All college transport is accessible for people who use wheelchairs.

We use a variety of communication and engagement support methods. These are embedded across the curriculum and throughout the learners’ day to day activities and include, Intensive interaction, Makaton, PECS, Visual Timetable, Objects of Reference, AAC devices, Tablets and other assistive technology, specialist support from Speech and Language therapy, IT access and technical support for communication devices.

Accessibility:
- Accessible changing
- Accessible toilets
- Disabled parking
- Hydrotherapy pool
- Low stimulus
- Physical adaptations
- Sensory adaptations
- Sensory area
- Soft play
- Hearing loop
- Wheelchair access
- Level access

Is the building fully wheelchair accessible?
Yes
Is there disabled changing and toilet facilities?
Yes
Describe any training or experience you/your staff, have had or are having in issues around SEND?

All staff are trained in Safeguarding, safer working practice, Health & Safety, Equality and Diversity, Moving and Handling and where necessary, Team Teach, Autism, Working with people with ABI and other specialist training.

  • All teachers hold teaching qualifications.
  • Personal Learning Coordinators hold teaching qualifications (minimum CTLLs).
  • All therapists are qualified and registered in their own particular disciplines.
  • All residential (care) staff hold Diploma in Health and Social Care (or equivalent) at level 2 or above or are working to achieve this.

We employ the following qualified staff:

  • Teacher
  • Speech and Language therapists
  • Physiotherapists
  • Occupational Therapists
  • Music therapists
  • Drama Therapist
  • Psychologist
  • Intensive Interaction Specialists
  • Behavioural specialist
  • Nurses
  • Learning support staff
  • Residential (care) staff
  • Therapy assistants
Experience of working with children and young people with the following disabilities/additional needs.
  • Alternative Communication
  • Autistic Spectrum Disorders
  • Complex Medical/Physical Needs
  • Challenging Behaviours
Please add any further information you feel may be of use for the SEND local offer.

Learners are inducted into college over a number of days and careful consideration is given to the views and wishes of them and their parents.  Parents are given contact details in college and frequency and method of communication is agreed at admission.

All young people wishing to use our service will have an assessment where they will meet and engage with staff from Therapies, Education and Residential services. Those staff will then meet to reflect on their findings from the assessment process to ensure we are able to meet the need of the young person.

Required support staff are assessed according to individual needs and activities. Support ratios range from 2:1 to 1:6.

Learning programmes can be built up flexibly around learner needs so many learners do not follow a pre-prescribed study programme, but may access a range of programmes to meet their needs. All learners have individual and personal timetables.

We have a transition team comprising of a careers advisor and housing specialist who work with learners and their Personalised Learning Coordinators to plan for their future living and occupational destinations.

We support and facilitate an active Parent and Carer Forum within the college.

Learners are inducted into college over a number of days and careful consideration is given to the views and wishes of them and their parents. Parents are given contact details in college and frequency and method of communication is agreed at admission.

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