There are two versions of the Navigation Star available – Navigation Star for Young People and Navigation Star for Parents
Navigation Star for Young People
For improving understanding and support
Who is the Navigation Star for Young people for?
The Navigation Star for Young People is the Star for young people who face barriers in the world around them and need support or adjustments to thrive. It is specifically created for neurodivergent young people (including those with autism, ADHD or other ways of thinking and processing) and young people with a learning disability. The young people will be broadly aged 12-25, recognising that developmental and experiential appropriateness would be considered case by case.
The young person does not need a formal diagnosis to use this Star. The Star helps young people and those supporting them identify progress towards key outcomes like how I spend my time, communication and connection and my learning and skills, and gives clarity on where to focus next.
Using the Outcomes Star approach
The Navigation Stars are designed to be used as part of the Outcomes Star approach. That’s why we provide essential training and ongoing support to all licenced practitioners, so you can embed the Outcomes Star approach in your practice.
How does the Navigation Star for Young People work?
The Navigation Star for Young People covers seven key outcome areas that help support young people to be heard and supported in ways that work for them so they can live the life they choose. It assesses progress following a five-stage Journey of Change.
You and the young people you support will fill out the Star together and use it to better identify where improvements in support are needed and where their strengths lie, and to make plans for moving forward along the journey.
Outcome areas
How I spend my time
Communication and connection
My learning and skills
Where I'm living
My physical health
How I feel
My identity
The Journey of Change
01
Stuck
02
Being heard
03
Exploring
04
Things are improving
05
Managing and supported
Download a preview
Explore a preview of a resource for the Family Star Plus and Family Star
New Star - new resources
The Navigation Stars feature brand-new designs
- What other Stars for children and young people and parents and carers are available?
We have other Stars available for people working with children and young people and parents and carers. My Mind Star is for supporting young people’s mental health and wellbeing. Shooting Star is for children and young people in school settings or being supported through mentoring and out-of-school programmes. Spectrum Star is for people on the autistic spectrum.
You may also want to consider My Star which can be used to capture the voice of the child, their needs and perspective.
Navigation Star for Parents
For improving understanding and support
Who is the Navigation Star for Parents for?
The Navigation Star for Parents is for parents and carers of children of all ages who need extra support to learn, to manage at home or outside the home, or in other ways.
This includes autistic children and children with ADHD, other neurodivergence and learning disabilities. It helps parents and carers and those supporting them identify progress towards key outcomes like my child’s learning, my child’s wellbeing, my child’s communication and navigating the support system, and gives clarity on where to focus next.
It is important to note that this Star should only be used in services that specifically support parents and carers to navigate services and support systems, which may involve working with other services to help them work in a more co-ordinated way.
How does the Navigation Star for Parents work?
The Navigation Star for Parents covers seven key outcome areas that help support parents and carers get the support their child needs and to meet their own needs as parents and as a family. It assesses their progress following a five-stage Journey of Change.
You and the people you support will complete the Star together and use it to better identify where their strengths lie and where they might need more help, and to make plans for moving forward along the journey.
Outcome areas
My child's learning
My child's wellbeing
My child's communication
Navigating the support system
Our family relationships
Practicalities and routines
Looking after myself
The Journey of Change
01
Stuck
02
Being heard
03
Exploring
04
Things are improving
05
Managing and supported
Always rooted in expertise and experience
Special thanks to NHS Devon & Plymouth Keyworking Programme (Livewell Southwest and Children and Family Health Devon; CFHD) including the Plymouth parent-carer voice group for collaborating with us to develop this version of the Star and to Gloucestershire Dynamic Keyworking Service and Kent & Medway Dynamic Support Service (Keyworking) for their central roles.
Thank you also to a number of other services (and the parent carer groups and networks linked to those services) who were instrumental in developing the content and piloting the Star:
- Buckinghamshire Community Learning Disability Health Team
- Citywall – Post 16 Alternative Provision & Youth Mentoring
- Daisy Chain – Keyworking team
- Essex, Southend & Thurrock Keyworking Programme
- Manchester City Council Schools Mentoring
- North East London Learning Disabilities & Autism Keyworking Service.
In addition, we are grateful to North East & North Cumbria Keyworker Service who shaped the development of these Stars.
