Portage and Pre-School Service
Contents
Overview
The Portage and Pre-School Service offers a portage home visiting service and a monitoring and advice service to settings and families with children who have special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).
The service is available in the home and in:
- private, voluntary or independent (PVI) centres
- Children's centres
- Council owned nursery schools
The service work with with:
- Speech and Language Therapy
- Physiotherapy
- Occupational Therapy
- Paediatricians
- Health visitors
- Teachers
Support available
'Portage Home Visitors' support young children with SEND with their:
- development
- play
- communication
- relationships
The service deliver Early Bird and Early Bird Plus programmes for families who have children with a diagnosis of autism.
They set and review individualised targets and action plans in the home and in the setting, with other services' advice, to provide a holistic approach to support.
Who can access the service
Reasons for a referral include:
- concerns identified regarding the child's development
- if a child has a diagnosis
- if a child is going through assessment
The Portage and Pre-School Service works with early years children aged 0 to 4 years of age.
How to access the service
All children must be referred by either the child's:
- health visitor
- teacher
- early years Special Educational Needs Coordinator (SENCo)
- early years setting
Parents can also self-refer.
Contact details
Phone: 0191 424 6102
Email: pps@southtyneside.gov.uk