Portage Service - BCP Council

Portage is a specialist home-visiting education service targeted primarily at children under the age of 3 years with significant SEND needs who are accessing less than 10 hours per week in an early years setting. Please contact the service for more information if you are worried about a child with SEND who is aged 3 years and not attending an early years setting.

The BCP Portage service is registered with the National Portage Association (NPA) and has been recognised as a 5-star Portage Service.

The team are committed to continuing professional development through NPA training and other specialist workshops. The team have a specific passion and interest in developing their skills and practice in relation to communication and language strategies.

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Venue/Contact Details

Helen Jones

01202 127268

07824 521406

portage@bcpcouncil.gov.uk

BCP Council Civic Centre

Bourne Avenue

Bournemouth

Dorset

Postcode

BH2 6DY

Area coverage

BCP Area

Directions

See Journey Planner on right-hand side of this page, where you can view bus, car and train routes from your location.

Facilities

Hearing Loop Available
Wheelchair Accessible

Times and Costs

Opening times:

Monday to Friday 9am - 5pm.

Further opening details:

Afternoon
Morning

Daily

Availability

All Year Round

Costs:

This service is free.

Ages, Booking Details and Referral Information

Eligibility criteria:

The child should live in Bournemouth, Christchurch or Poole, be aged under 3 years and have significant delays across 3 areas of development equivalent to 50% of their age. Children who are attending an early years setting for 10 hours or more are not eligible for Portage. Contact the service if you are worried about a child who is already 3 years old and is not able to access an early years setting. For children with mild/moderate delays in their development you might want to consider support from the Health Visiting Service, Speech and Language Therapy Service or your local Family Hub.

Referral process:

Parents/carers and professionals can make a referral via the EY SEND Request for Involvement form (see website link). All referrals must include sufficient information to show the child meets the Portage learning and development criteria. This information can be provided by emailing supporting documents to portage@bcpcouncil.gov.uk or typing additional information into the referral form.

Religious and Additional Needs Provision

Additional needs supported:

Global Development Delay
Autistic Spectrum Disorder
Motor Impairment
Speech, Language & Communication Needs
Hearing Impairment
Learning Difficulty
Chromosome Deletion
Cerebral Palsy
Physical Disability
Downs Syndrome

SEND Local Offer

Description:

Portage is a specialist home visiting education service primarily for children under the age of three who have complex special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).

Policies

Are your staff DBS Approved?

Yes

Do you have Public Liability Insurance?

Yes

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