Education - EPS - Portage Service

Portage is a service for children aged 0–5 who have additional needs and are not yet attending an educational setting.It is a home-based teaching service for pre-school children who may have developmental delays. These may be linked to learning or physical needs, a specific condition, or where there is no clear reason but development is slower than expected.The service supports parents and carers to help their child learn at home, with guidance from a trained Portage Home Visitor.More information can be found on the National Portage Association website:
www.portage.org.uk

 

How the service supports

Portage focuses on helping children learn through enjoyable and meaningful activities at home. A Portage Home Visitor works with the family by:

• Assessing what the child can already do using a structured checklist

• Developing a personalised teaching plan based on the child’s needs and family priorities

• Supporting parents and carers to build confidence in helping their child learn

During Portage involvement

Portage Home Visitors use a range of approaches to support learning and development.During weekly visits, they will:

• Demonstrate activities to help teach new skills
• Show how to observe and record progress
• Create a clear weekly activity plan (Activity Chart)

Parents and carers:

• Practise the activities during the visit
• Continue short, daily activities with the child throughout the week

At the next visit, progress is reviewed and the next steps are agreed together, ensuring support remains tailored to the child’s development.

If you know of a family who would benefit from receiving Portage or would like further details about the service please contact: