Signposting - Schools & learning - Early years - Wiltshire Portage

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Section: Signposting

Subsection: Signposting - Schools & learning - Early years

Portage Services in Wiltshire

Please see below for further information on the two Portage services in Wiltshire.

Wiltshire Portage

Portage logo.JPG
Wiltshire Portage is a home visiting education service for children, and their families, from birth to school entry with difficulties and disabilities. It is an independent and registered charity, not a statutory organisation. It provides a free home visiting service to over 52 families in the towns and villages of the North, Kennet and West areas of Wiltshire. The Service operates during term

time for 38 weeks a year and can be received from birth to school entry. It works with families and young children to provide unique learning opportunities through holistic play.


What is Portage?

  • It is based on the principal that parents are the key figure in the care and development of their child.
  • Instead of taking the child to the service the service is brought to the family.
  • Portage Home Visitors visit families in their own homes for approximately an hour and a half each week, dependant on individual requirement. (some visits are fortnightly)
  • Together with parents Portage Home Visitors play, observe and then design activities aimed at helping their child.
  • Portage offers a carefully structured but flexible system to help parents become even better teachers to their child.
  • Wiltshire Portage is registered with the National Portage Association (NPA).

There are 3 principles of Portage: child led play, structured teaching and family support.

How Does Wiltshire Portage Work?
Children are referred to the Service through professional referrals (paediatrician, health visitors etc) or self-referrals by the parent/carer.

For further information take a look at their Service Information Leaflet or visit their [website]. You can also call 07780 653888 Monday-Friday, 9am-2pm in term time or email officewiltshireportage@gmail.com

Salisbury Portage Service

July 2017 - Update to Portage Services in Wiltshire

Wiltshire Portage will be taking over the Portage service for children and families in the Salisbury and surrounding area from Virgin Care on 1st July 2017.

Wiltshire Portage currently has Home Visitors covering the rest of Wiltshire excluding Swindon.

Wiltshire Portage has already begun the process of recruiting new Home Visitors for the South Wiltshire area, and as soon as they have completed their training, Wiltshire Portage is confident they will be able to resume a full Portage Service across the county. In the meantime, Wiltshire Portage will be keeping in touch with families known to the service to discuss how they can help during this transition period, and will be keeping these families notified of the timescale for the new service.

Wiltshire Portage wishes to offer the assurance that the team of experienced Home Visitors will work alongside new members of staff to ensure that an excellent Portage service is delivered to the south Wiltshire area.

Wiltshire Portage is working very hard to get the new service up and running as quickly as possible; any parent carer or family member with urgent queries or who requires help, should contact the Portage Service Manager: Kim Hannay-Young on 07780 653888 or email managerwiltshireportage@gmail.com

Take a look at their website: [Portage]

Finally, Wiltshire Portage would welcome any parents or interested people who would like to become involved. There are opportunities to join the Management Committee, and they would be delighted to hear from anyone who would like to get involved in fundraising events.