Type of service: Outreach - education, Service providers

Portage is a home-visiting educational service for pre-school children with additional support needs and their families. The first such scheme was developed in Portage, Wisconsin, United States of America (USA) in the early 1970's to meet the needs of the young children living in rural communities. Since its introduction in the United Kingdom (UK), the success of the approach has led to an increasing number of services being developed nationally. There are now 140 services registered with the National Portage Association in Britain. The aim of Portage is to support the development of young children's play, communication and relationships and to encourage full participation in day to day life within the family and beyond the home. Portage services are committed to securing inclusion in the wider community for all children and families in their own right. Support offered through Portage is based on the principle that parents are the key figures in the care and development of their child and Portage aims to help parents to be confident in this role whatever their child's needs may be.

Aimed at: Child , Parent/carer of a child, Professional

Specialisms: Generic