Portage Home Visiting Services
Early Years SEND Support, Home-Based Learning, Family Guidance, Development Support, Legal Rights & Advocacy
Portage Home Visiting Services are specialist early years educational support services for babies and young children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) and developmental delays. The service works alongside parents and carers, helping them support their child's learning and development through everyday play and activities at home.
Portage is based on the principle that parents and carers are their child's first and most important teachers. The service aims to build confidence, provide practical strategies and support children to reach their developmental potential. Most Portage services support children from birth to around 4 years of age, although local eligibility criteria can vary.
1. What is Portage?
Portage is a structured home-visiting educational service designed for young children with SEND or significant developmental delays.
A trained Portage Practitioner visits families regularly to:
- Support child development
- Teach through play
- Set achievable learning goals
- Help parents develop practical teaching strategies
- Monitor progress
- Support transition into nursery or school
- Work alongside other professionals
Many services are registered with the National Portage Association (NPA), which provides training and quality standards for Portage services across England and Wales.
2. Who Can Access Portage?
Portage is generally available for:
- Babies
- Toddlers
- Preschool children
- Children with SEND
- Children with developmental delays
- Children with complex medical needs
- Children awaiting assessment or diagnosis
A formal diagnosis is not always required if there is evidence that a child has significant developmental needs. Eligibility and referral criteria vary between local authorities.
3. What Support Does Portage Provide?
Support is tailored to each child's needs and family circumstances.
A Portage programme may include:
Communication
- Developing understanding
- Encouraging speech
- Supporting early communication
- Alternative communication strategies where appropriate
Play
- Learning through play
- Turn-taking
- Imaginative play
- Problem-solving
Physical Development
- Gross motor skills
- Fine motor skills
- Coordination
- Mobility
Personal Development
- Independence skills
- Feeding
- Dressing
- Toileting support
- Daily routines
Social & Emotional Development
- Relationships
- Emotional regulation
- Confidence
- Interaction with others
The focus is on building skills in everyday family life through enjoyable activities.
4. How Does Portage Work?
A Portage Practitioner will usually:
- Visit the family at home (often weekly or fortnightly)
- Observe the child's current skills
- Agree small, realistic goals with parents
- Demonstrate play-based learning activities
- Leave practical ideas for families to use between visits
- Review progress regularly
- Adapt support as the child develops
Many Portage services use a "small steps" approach, breaking learning into manageable stages to help children experience success.
5. Working with Parents and Carers
Portage is family-centred.
Parents and carers are encouraged to:
- Share concerns
- Ask questions
- Take part in activities
- Celebrate progress
- Practise learning during everyday routines
- Keep records of achievements
- Help set future goals
Support is collaborative rather than prescriptive.
6. Working with Other Professionals
Portage often works closely with:
- Health visitors
- GPs
- Community paediatricians
- Speech and Language Therapists
- Occupational Therapists
- Physiotherapists
- Educational Psychologists
- Early years SENCOs
- Nursery staff
- Social care professionals where appropriate
This joined-up approach helps ensure support is consistent across home and education settings.
7. Portage and SEND
Portage is often one part of wider SEND support.
Children receiving Portage may also access:
- SEN Support
- Early Years Inclusion Services
- Speech and Language Therapy
- Occupational Therapy
- Physiotherapy
- Family Hubs
- Early Help
- Educational Psychology
- Health services
If a child's needs are significant and ongoing, families may wish to discuss whether an Education, Health and Care (EHC) needs assessment is appropriate.
Useful resources:
8. Transition to Nursery and School
Portage can support successful transitions into:
- Nursery
- Preschool
- Childminders
- Reception classes
- Specialist settings
Support may include:
- Transition planning
- Information sharing (with parental consent)
- Visits to new settings
- Preparing staff
- Developing individual support plans
Helping children become familiar with new routines can reduce anxiety and improve confidence.
9. Family Support
Portage also supports parents by:
- Building confidence
- Providing practical advice
- Explaining child development
- Helping families access local services
- Signposting to support groups
- Encouraging positive parent-child interaction
Some local services also offer parent groups, workshops or play sessions alongside home visits.
10. Legal Rights
Children receiving Portage may have rights under:
- Children and Families Act 2014
- Equality Act 2010
- SEND Code of Practice (0–25 years)
- Human Rights Act 1998
- Education legislation
- Data protection legislation
These rights may include:
- Early identification of SEND
- Appropriate SEN Support
- Access to assessments
- Reasonable adjustments where required
- Participation in decisions
- Access to complaints procedures
- Protection from disability discrimination
Useful resources:
11. Evidence Standards
Keeping good records can help secure appropriate support.
Useful evidence includes:
- Developmental assessments
- Health visitor records
- Portage visit notes
- Speech and Language Therapy reports
- Occupational Therapy reports
- Physiotherapy reports
- Nursery observations
- SEN Support Plans
- Parent diary
- Photos or videos of developmental progress (where appropriate)
- Emails
- Meeting notes
Evidence should explain:
- The child's strengths
- Areas of developmental need
- Progress over time
- Strategies that have helped
- Remaining barriers
- Recommended next steps
Keep copies of all important documents.
12. Accountability & Complaints
If concerns arise about Portage or wider SEND support:
Step 1
Discuss concerns with your Portage Practitioner.
Step 2
Contact the Portage Team Leader or Early Years SEND Service.
Step 3
Raise concerns with your local authority if necessary.
Step 4
Use the local authority complaints procedure.
Step 5
Seek independent advice if concerns remain unresolved.
Useful organisations include:
13. Advocacy & Independent Support
Families may find support from:
14. Quick Help Directory
National Portage Association
National Portage Association (NPA)
SEND Information
EHCP Information
Family Support
- Family Hubs and Start for Life
- Contact
Independent Advice
Key Message
Portage Home Visiting Services provide valuable early educational support for young children with SEND or developmental delays by helping families build learning into everyday life. Through play, practical strategies and partnership working, Portage empowers parents and carers while supporting children's communication, learning, independence and development. Families should not feel they have to wait for a formal diagnosis before seeking help. Early intervention, good record-keeping, collaboration with professionals and understanding your legal rights can help ensure your child receives timely, appropriate and coordinated support.