What is Portage
Portage is a home visiting educational service for pre school children with additional needs and their families. The aim of the Portage is to work in partnership with parents/carers in supporting the key areas of a young child’s development. Portage works closely alongside other relevant agencies involved with the child and family in sharing ideas, setting targets and reviewing progress.
How Portage works
Families are visited weekly or fortnightly at home by their trained Portage EY SEND Practitioner. Parents/carers share with the Portage EY SEND Practitioner their own understanding of their child’s individual strengths, abilities and support needs. Developmental checklists may help with the process of identifying what the child can do and planning goals for the future learning. Goals may focus on developing movement, learning, play, communication and participation in the activities of everyday living. Portage supports the child’s transition from home to the Early years setting into nursery/school.
Referral to Portage
Requests for Portage involvement are received from parents/carers, and parental consent, from a range of health professionals and Early years providers.
Criteria for Referral- Request for portage support
Referral is considered for children from birth to school age, whose development is delayed by approximately one third of its age in at least two different skill areas or a diagnosis or recognised syndrome which is likely to lead to a delay in learning such as their understanding, self-help or physical skills. Please note: children who are in receipt of their 15 hours allocated Early years funding may not be eligible to receive Portage involvement, however all referrals would be considered on an individual basis at the discretion of the Portage team.
Initial visit
Families are initially offered 6 planned visits. Further 6 week cycle of visits to be discussed on a plan, do, review cycle in agreement between the parents/carers and Portage team. To ensure commitment to the service- if a family fail to engage in the service e.g were not available for 3 consecutive planned visits, portage team would write to the family to explain and if agreed within the team, and the family would go back on the waiting list.
Contact Details for Lincolnshire County Service Local Team
Boston & District Team, Victoria Gross – Portage EY SEND Practitioner
BEA, Kitwood Road, Boston, Lincs, PE21 0PX
Tel: 07502 970926
