Early Years SEN Advisory Team

Thompson House

Sandy Lane

Newport

PO30 3NA

Portage visitor’s name :-

Contact number :-01983 821000 ext.

Email:-

2663 CS 08/15 LF

If you have difficulty understanding this document, please contact us on 01983 821000

and we will do our best to help you.

Early Years SEN Advisory Team – Portage

A Portage service registered with theNational Portage Association Portage: a service for children with

additional needs from birth to school age

What is Portage?

The Portage approach was originally developed for parents in the early 1970’s in a town called Portage, Wisconsin in the USA. It was introduced to the UK in 1976.

Portage working involves

• Empowering parents/carers to build on their child’s successes using a positive approach;

• Using small steps to support learning;

• Learning through play and having fun;

• Working together and celebrating achievements with the child and their family;

• Partnership with parents/carers and other professionals with a commitment to inclusion.

Portage has a long successful record of supporting families of pre-school children with significant developmental delay.

Portage home visitors are experienced early years practitioners who have expertise in understanding, recognising and supporting the needs of every child.

Working in partnership

Portage is at its most effective when parents/carers are committed to carry out agreed activities and strategies also when the Portage home visitor works closely with all those involved with the child.

Portage

Portage is for children who have a significant delay in their development. Parents/carers are recognised as knowing their child best and Portage builds on this knowledge. The Early Years SEN Advisor - (Portage)will

• Visit the family regularly at home;

• Work with families to plan fun activities so that the child learns new skills in small steps;

• Liaise with other professionals to help families meet the needs of their child.

Portage Plus

Portage Plus is for children with significant behaviour difficulties. Support can be provided in the home and/or the early years setting.

Portage Plus will

• Identify specific areas of concerns about behaviour;

• Develop an understanding as to why the difficult behaviours occur;

• Empower parents/carers by suggesting strategies to support their child;

• Support the child’s emotional, social and self-esteem development;

• Support the child to accept boundaries and routines.

Portage Outreach

Outreach is a service that is offered to all early years providers for any child whose development causes significant concern, and when core Portage or Portage Plus is not being delivered.

The Early Years SEN Advisor - (Portage)can

• Work with settings to offer support and guidance to meet the individual child’s needs;

• Meet with setting staff and parents/carers to ensure consistency of support for the child;

• Liaise with other professionals to help settings meet the needs of the child;

• To be available to support the setting in planning school transition.