Portage, Home Visiting Education Service

What is Portage?

Portage is a home visiting education service for pre-school children with additional support needs and their families.

About the Service
Stoke-on-Trent Portage Service works with children aged 0-5 years, where there are significant delays in two areas of development.  Referrals are accepted from parents and professionals and are considered by the monthly Early Years Resource Panel. If the service is suitable for the child and the family, the Portage Co-ordinator will arrange to visit them.

How can Portage help?
The Portage Co-ordinator will discuss the service with the family and answer any questions.  If the family agrees, a Home Visitor will be allocated, who will assess the child’s needs.  Together, the family and Home Visitor plan targets to help develop the child’s skills.

What happens during home visits?
The family and the Home Visitor agree a time for the weekly or fortnightly visit.  Each visit will last about one hour.

Targets are agreed and teaching activities will be carried out by the Home Visitor, parent and child.

At each visit, the Home Visitor will demonstrate and teach a play-based activity which will develop the child’s skills.  Between visits, parents will practise the activities with their child and record the child’s successes.

Next Steps
Every three months, the targets will be reviewed and celebrated.  New targets may be set.

If concerns about the child’s development continue, the Portage Service can liaise with Education, sharing information and helping the child to settle into school or nursery.

If at any time, either the Portage Home Visitor or parents feel that the service is no longer appropriate, the Portage Co-ordinator will summarise the progress the child has made and help the parent to plan the next steps.

Contact Us
For more information on the Portage Service or to ask for a referral form, please contact:

Call us on 01782 552568 or write to:

Stoke-on-Trent Portage Service
Pre School Learning Alliance
Child Development Centre
Hilton Road
Stoke on Trent
ST4 6QG