Type of service: Nursery and pre-schools

Portage is a home visiting educational service for pre-school children with special educational needs. These may be pre-school children who have learning difficulties, delays in their development and/or physical difficulties. Portage is a partnership between parents and professionals. The aim is to equip parents with the skills and confidence they need to help their child. Each programme is tailored to meet the requirements of the individual child with an emphasis on being positive, finding out what a child can do and building on that. During regular home visits, the Portage Home Visitor works with parents to design one or more activities that parents can practice each day with their child. Each activity is one small step towards achieving a new skill, progress is regularly reviewed and new goals set. Long term goals are negotiated with parents and other professionals involved with the child. Poole Portage Service also run Stay and Play Special Toy Libraries for pre-school children with Special Needs. These provide an opportunity for you to come along and learn how different play activities can support your child's development and be fun. They are held monthly at Canford Heath, Rossmore and Old Town Children's Centres. Sessions are term time only. Our Portage Stay and Play session currently delivered at Canford Heath Children’s Centre will be transferring to Hillbourne Children’s Centres from September 2014.

Aimed at: Child

Specialisms: Generic