What is Portage?
Portage is a home visiting educational service for pre school children with additional support needs and their families. It is based on the common sense principle that parents are the key figures in the care and development of their children.
Portage assesses the needs of young children with learning difficulties and then, in partnership with parents, builds on the abilities the child already has to stimulate the development of new skills. Portage offers a carefully structured yet flexible system to help parents become effective teachers of their own children.
The National Portage Association
The Bristol Portage Service is registered with the National Portage Association (NPA). The Association sets out a Code of Practice and Code of Ethics to ensure quality of service. It provides and monitors training courses and a curriculum of professional development.
Who is Portage for?
Portage is for children of pre-school age who have Special Educational or additional needs and live within the city of Bristol. Children are referred to the team by a range of health, education and social services personnel or directly by their parents.
How does it work?
Parents / Carers and children receive regular (usually weekly) home visits from their Portage Visitor. Initially the child's development is observed and recorded in the following areas: Social Skills; Self Help; Motor Skills; Cognitive Skills; Language Skills and Infant Stimulation. The Portage model for service delivery is based on three elements: Child led; Family focussed; and Structured teaching. We also use a Guide to Early Movement Skills for younger or more profoundly delayed children.
Looking at the skills a child has acquired, plus emerging skills (ones s/he is beginning to demonstrate), the Portage Visitor and parents decide on teaching objectives. Each skill is broken down into small steps via a series of linked activities to stimulate the child's development. Portage programmes are specifically designed to meet the needs of the individual child, and to enable him / her to learn as effectively as other children. Portage emphasises the positive and builds on what children can already do.
The Portage Team
At present the Portage team consists of: One full-time Senior Portage Home Visitor - Team Leader plus 2.5 full time Portage Home Visitors. In addition there is one full-time and one part-time Portage Visitor who as part of her case load works specifically with 3 children who have delayed language and communication with associated behaviour difficulties, delayed play skills and short attention span.
Training
The Portage team offer regular training throughout the year to all Early years settings, including the Independent,Voluntary and Private sectors as well as childminders. This is aimed at using the Portage model, practical ways to differentiate the curriculum and writing clear targets for Indivvidual Educational Plans.
Contact:
The Portage Service
Elmfield House
Greystoke Ave
Westbury-on-Trym
Bristol
BS10 6AY
Tel: 0117 90 38441 / 38438
Fax: 0117 90 38440
Email: sics@elmfield-house.freeserve.co.uk