"Enabling potential and celebrating success; together we can help children learn"
What is portage?
Portage is a home visiting educational service for pre-school children, who have significant developmental delay/complex Special Educational Needs (SEN), and their families.
The aim of portage is to support the development of young children’s play, engagement, learning and relationships, and participate in day-to-day life within the family, and beyond the home, their inclusion in the wider community. Support offered through Portage is based on the principle that parents are central to the care and development of their child. Portage aims to help parents to be confident in this role whatever their child’s needs may be and reduce any barriers to learning.
Who are the Derbyshire Portage Team (DPS)?
The team are part of the Early Years Special Educational Needs (EYSEN) Service. Portage Home Visitors are specialists with a wide range of experience working with children and families. They have received additional training from the National Portage Association (NPA). The service is registered with the NPA, adheres to the NPA Code of Practice and is extremely proud to have a 5-star award from the NPA.
To learn more about the National Portage Association, please visit:
National Portage Association - Home
How Portage Works
Portage offers a framework of support, which respects each family and their own individual priorities. It is a model that adapts flexibly to individual child and family needs. Families are visited regularly by a Portage Home Visitor primarily in their home, or in a community space alongside other families. They develop a shared understanding with families of the child’s strengths, differences, and agree learning outcomes for the future. Visits focus on practical ideas and fun play experiences which support the child to make small steps of progress towards the agreed learning outcomes.
Portage Home visitors support parents to plan transition from home-based learning to school or nursery provision. They work closely with parents, their chosen school or nursery and other professionals involved to support a confident and successful transitions.
What Our Families Say
"The service was amazing, and i'm gutted to see it come to an end."
"The whole experience and support provided was excellent"
"Amazing support and reassurance, support with learning play and imagination ideas, just fantastic, would recommend 100%."
How to refer to the Derbyshire Portage Service
Referrals are not made directly to DPS but to the EYSEN Service using the EYSEN Panel Referral Form. Referrals are made by any professional currently working with the family, after discussion and agreement with the family. Referrals must contain a detailed description of the child’s current development and needs, information about what services and support have been accessed at universal and targeted levels, and any impact of this. For support describing the child’s current level of development professionals can refer to the Celebratory Checkpoints.
DPS Referral Criteria
The child must:
- live within the boundaries of Derbyshire County Council
- be aged from 4 months to 4 years old
- have significant developmental delay/complex special educational needs
- have needs impacting on day-to-day life even after support from other professionals
- not be accessing early education in a setting, childminder, or school, or be starting one within 4 months
- have a family who are committed to working regularly with a Portage Home Visitor
To discuss a possible referral with the Senior Portage Home Visitor, or EYSEN Lead Officer, please contact via:
Email: cs.eysenservice@derbyshire.gov.uk