Portage Home Visiting Services are specialist early years educational support services for babies and young children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND), additional support needs or developmental delays.
Portage works alongside parents and carers, helping them support their child's learning and development through everyday play, interaction, communication and family activities at home.
Portage is based on the principle that parents and carers are their child's first and most important teachers.
The aim is not to turn family life into a classroom. Instead, Portage helps families identify small, achievable developmental goals and build learning into ordinary activities such as play, meals, dressing, stories, songs and daily routines.
The service aims to build parental confidence, provide practical strategies and help children develop skills in communication, play, movement, independence, learning and social interaction.
Portage is generally a pre-school service. Many local services work with children from birth or infancy through the preschool years. The exact age range varies locally, and some services continue support until a child reaches statutory school age.
This guide explains what Portage is, who may qualify, how home visits work, developmental support, family involvement, SEND and statutory education pathways, transition to nursery or school, evidence, legal rights, complaints and independent support.
Important — Portage Availability Varies by Area
The National Portage Association currently supports more than 100 registered Portage services across England and Wales.
Services are often operated or commissioned by local authorities, but eligibility criteria, age ranges, frequency of visits, staffing and referral routes can differ between areas.
Some areas may use a different name for a similar early years home-learning or developmental support service.
A family should not assume that being outside the eligibility criteria for a Portage service means their child has no entitlement to other early-years, educational, health or disability support.
1. What is Portage?
Portage is a structured home-visiting educational service designed primarily for preschool children who have additional support needs and their families.
A trained Portage Practitioner or Home Visitor works in partnership with the family.
Development
- Support child development
- Identify emerging skills
- Build skills gradually
- Monitor progress
Learning Through Play
- Teach through play
- Use enjoyable activities
- Follow the child's interests
- Build learning into family routines
Family Partnership
- Set achievable learning goals
- Help parents develop practical strategies
- Build parental confidence
- Celebrate progress
Monitoring
- Observe current abilities
- Record developmental progress
- Review goals
- Adjust activities as the child develops
Transition
- Prepare for nursery
- Prepare for school
- Share useful information
- Support continuity of strategies
Professional Partnership
- Work alongside education staff
- Work alongside health professionals
- Support joined-up planning
- Help families understand services
The National Portage Association says Portage has been established in the UK since 1976 and the NPA itself was established in 1983.
NPA service registration is designed to identify the essential components of the Portage model and support consistent quality of home-visiting services.
2. Who Can Access Portage?
Local criteria vary, but Portage is generally aimed at babies and young children with significant developmental or additional support needs.
Age
- Babies
- Toddlers
- Preschool children
- Some children approaching school age
Developmental Needs
- Global developmental delay
- Communication delay
- Physical-development delay
- Learning difficulties
- Complex developmental profiles
SEND & Disability
- Children with SEND
- Disabled children
- Children with sensory needs
- Children with complex medical needs
Assessment Pending
- Children awaiting assessment
- Children awaiting diagnosis
- Children with clear developmental needs but no label
Existing Diagnoses
Children may have conditions such as:
- Autism
- Genetic conditions
- Neurological conditions
- Learning disability
- Physical disability
Family Circumstances
Portage should work with the family around their child's needs, strengths, routines and priorities.
Local Portage services may accept children based on identified developmental or additional support needs even where diagnostic assessment is still ongoing.
Families should check the exact eligibility criteria for their local service.
How to Ask for Portage
Referral arrangements differ locally.
The National Portage Association recommends an open referral system, allowing parents and carers to request involvement as well as referrals from professionals.
The NPA regional directory lists registered services in England and Wales.
Ask about age limits, developmental criteria and geographical boundaries.
If not, ask which professional can make the referral.
This may include health visitor records, developmental reports or nursery observations.
The National Portage Association says parents should not be charged for Portage home visiting, which is usually delivered as part of a local authority service offer.
3. What Support Does Portage Provide?
Support should be tailored to the child's developmental needs, strengths, interests and family circumstances.
Communication
- Developing understanding
- Encouraging speech
- Supporting early communication
- Turn-taking
- Joint attention
- Alternative communication where appropriate
Play
- Learning through play
- Turn-taking
- Cause and effect
- Imaginative play
- Problem-solving
- Shared attention
Physical Development
- Gross motor skills
- Fine motor skills
- Coordination
- Mobility
- Reaching and grasping
- Using toys and objects
Personal Development
- Independence skills
- Feeding
- Dressing
- Toileting support
- Daily routines
- Making choices
Social Development
- Relationships
- Interaction with adults
- Interaction with children
- Sharing activities
- Taking turns
Emotional Development
- Confidence
- Emotional regulation
- Predictable routines
- Understanding emotions
- Positive parent-child interaction
Portage strategies can often be used naturally during play, meals, bath time, dressing, stories, songs, outings and other ordinary routines.
Feeding, swallowing, mobility, positioning and medical needs may require specialist assessment or guidance. Portage should complement — not replace — appropriate medical or therapy advice.
4. How Does Portage Work?
The exact service model varies, but Portage normally involves regular contact between a trained practitioner and the family.
Families share what their child enjoys, what they can already do and what they are finding difficult.
Developmental profiles or checklists may help identify strengths and areas for future learning.
Goals should be meaningful to the child and family.
The practitioner can show how ordinary play and family routines can support the agreed goal.
The aim is not constant formal teaching but repeated opportunities for learning during everyday life.
Goals can be changed as the child develops.
The National Portage Association says Portage generally offers regular home visits weekly or fortnightly.
Individual services may operate differently depending on local arrangements and capacity.
The “Small Steps” Approach
Many Portage programmes break larger developmental skills into smaller achievable steps.
Observe
Start with what the child can already do.
Choose the Next Step
Identify one achievable skill that builds on existing development.
Practise Naturally
Create repeated opportunities through enjoyable play and everyday routines.
5. Working with Parents and Carers
Portage is family-centred and should work in partnership with parents and carers rather than treating them simply as recipients of professional instructions.
Parents and Carers Are Encouraged To
- Share concerns
- Ask questions
- Take part in activities
- Share what works at home
- Celebrate progress
- Help choose meaningful goals
Between Visits
- Use learning during everyday routines
- Repeat enjoyable activities
- Observe new skills
- Keep notes where helpful
- Share successes and difficulties
Families know their child in ways that professionals cannot. Parent knowledge should therefore form an important part of assessment, planning and review.
Useful Questions Parents Can Ask
- What developmental strengths have been identified?
- What needs are currently being supported?
- What is the current learning goal?
- Why was this goal chosen?
- How can we practise it naturally?
- How will progress be measured?
- When will the goal be reviewed?
- Should another professional be involved?
- What support is available when Portage ends?
6. Working with Other Professionals
Portage may form one part of a wider package of support.
Primary Health
- Health visitors
- GPs
- School or community nursing services
Medical & Developmental
- Community paediatricians
- Child-development teams
- Specialist medical services
Speech & Communication
- Speech and Language Therapists
- Communication specialists
Physical Development
- Occupational Therapists
- Physiotherapists
- Mobility specialists
Education
- Early years SENCOs
- ALNCos where applicable
- Nursery staff
- Teachers
- Educational Psychologists
Family & Social Support
- Early Help services
- Family support
- Social care where appropriate
- Disability services
With appropriate consent and information-sharing arrangements, professionals can coordinate strategies so families are not repeatedly given conflicting advice.
7. Portage and SEND
Portage is often one part of wider early-years and SEND support.
Education
- SEN Support
- Early Years Inclusion Services
- Specialist nursery support
- Educational Psychology
Therapies
- Speech and Language Therapy
- Occupational Therapy
- Physiotherapy
Family & Health
- Best Start Family Hubs
- Early Help
- Health services
- Family support
In England, the SEND framework focuses on the child's special educational needs and the special educational provision required.
England — SEN Support
Early years providers receiving local-authority funding have responsibilities under the SEND framework.
Support may involve:
- Identifying developmental needs
- Working with parents
- Planning appropriate support
- Using specialist advice where required
- Reviewing progress
- Adjusting support
- Coordinating with health services
- Considering statutory assessment where appropriate
When an EHC Needs Assessment May Need to Be Considered
Some children have needs that may require more provision than can reasonably be secured through ordinary early years or SEN Support.
Families may wish to discuss an Education, Health and Care needs assessment where:
- Developmental needs are significant
- Needs are complex
- Progress remains limited despite support
- Multiple specialists are involved
- Long-term specialist provision is required
- Transition to education requires substantial support
- Ordinary provision may not be sufficient
- Education, health and care support need coordination
Families do not have to wait for a nursery, school or Portage service to make that request on their behalf.
8. Early Years Additional Support Across the UK
Portage is particularly established through the National Portage Association network in England and Wales.
The wider legal education system differs in each nation.
Wales
Wales uses the Additional Learning Needs system, including Additional Learning Provision and Individual Development Plans.
Portage services also operate in parts of Wales.
Scotland
Scotland uses the Additional Support for Learning framework rather than EHCPs.
Families should ask their local authority, health visitor or early-years service about local home-based developmental or additional-support services.
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland uses its own SEN framework through schools and the Education Authority.
Local early-years and needs-led support may be available even where the service is not called Portage.
The Education Authority describes these as a needs-led SEN support service with specialist support including cognition and learning, autism, language and communication, and social, behavioural, emotional and wellbeing needs.
9. Transition to Nursery and School
Portage can play an important role in helping children move from home-based early support into nursery, school or another educational setting.
Transition Planning
- Agree a transition plan
- Identify support needs
- Identify communication needs
- Discuss personal care
- Discuss equipment
Information Sharing
- Share developmental information
- Share successful strategies
- Share professional reports
- Share communication methods
- Use appropriate consent
Preparing the Child
- Visits to the new setting
- Photos
- Visual transition books
- Practising routines
- Meeting key adults
Preparing Staff
- Explain the child's strengths
- Explain support needs
- Demonstrate communication strategies
- Explain equipment or routines
Support Planning
- Individual support plan
- SEN or ALN planning
- Reasonable adjustments
- Therapy recommendations
After Starting
- Review the transition
- Check provision is happening
- Review progress
- Change support where required
Where Portage and other professionals already hold detailed information about a child's developmental needs, transition planning should make appropriate use of that evidence rather than waiting for the child to struggle in the new setting.
10. Family Support
Portage supports the child, but it can also help parents and carers feel more confident and connected to other services.
Confidence
- Recognising progress
- Understanding development
- Building practical skills
- Knowing what to try next
Practical Advice
- Play ideas
- Communication strategies
- Developmental activities
- Daily routines
Signposting
- Local services
- Therapy
- SEND support
- Parent groups
- Benefits information
Some services also provide:
- Parent groups
- Play sessions
- Workshops
- Stay-and-play activities
- Peer support
Best Start Family Hubs — England
Best Start Family Hubs bring together family, health and education support in local areas.
Depending on the local hub, families may be able to access:
- Parenting support
- Stay-and-play activities
- Early language support
- Infant feeding advice
- Mental-health support
- SEND signposting
- Financial guidance
- Links to health services
11. Legal Rights
Portage itself is a local service and availability varies, but children and families may have separate legal rights relating to SEND, disability, education, information and participation in decisions.
The Children and Families Act 2014 SEND provisions, SEND Code of Practice and EHCP system described below mainly apply to England.
Children and Families Act 2014 — England
Provides the main statutory framework for SEND and Education, Health and Care plans in England.
SEND Code — England
Statutory guidance explaining how education, health and local-authority bodies should identify and support SEND.
Equality Act 2010 — Great Britain
Provides protection from disability discrimination in England, Wales and Scotland.
Human Rights Act 1998
Human-rights principles can be relevant to decisions made by public bodies.
Data Protection
Personal information about children and families is protected by UK data-protection law.
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland has its own SEN and disability discrimination framework rather than relying on England's SEND/EHCP system.
Rights May Include
- Early identification of educational needs
- Appropriate additional support
- Participation in decisions
- Accessible communication
- Reasonable adjustments where required
- Protection from unlawful discrimination
- Access to statutory assessment where criteria are met
- Access to complaints and appeals where provided by law
12. Evidence Standards
Keeping good records can help families understand development, coordinate professionals and secure appropriate support.
Health Evidence
- Developmental assessments
- Health visitor records
- Paediatric reports
- Medical reports
Portage Evidence
- Portage visit notes
- Developmental profiles
- Goals
- Progress reviews
- Transition notes
Therapy Evidence
- Speech and Language Therapy reports
- Occupational Therapy reports
- Physiotherapy reports
Education Evidence
- Nursery observations
- SEN Support Plans
- Individual Development Plans where applicable
- Educational Psychology reports
Family Evidence
- Parent diary
- Meeting notes
- Emails
- Examples of strategies used at home
Developmental Evidence
- Photos where appropriate
- Videos where appropriate
- Examples of new skills
- Records of progress over time
Evidence Should Explain
Strengths
What can the child do and what interests them?
Need
Which areas of development need additional support?
Progress
What has changed over time?
Next Steps
What support is now required?
This is particularly useful when children move between Portage, nursery, health services and school.
13. Accountability & Complaints
If concerns arise about Portage or wider early-years SEND support, it is useful to identify exactly which service or decision is being challenged.
Explain clearly what has happened and what outcome you are seeking.
Ask for the concern and proposed action to be confirmed in writing.
This may be appropriate where the Portage service is operated or commissioned by the council.
Keep copies of your complaint and all responses.
Independent SEND organisations can help families understand which route applies.
A complaint about a Portage service is not necessarily the same as:
- An EHCP appeal
- A complaint about nursery SEND provision
- A health-service complaint
- A disability-discrimination claim
If a local authority has made a decision carrying appeal rights, check that deadline separately.
14. Advocacy & Independent Support
Families may benefit from independent organisations alongside Portage, education and health professionals.
National Portage Association
Specialist information about Portage services, families, practitioners, training and local services.
SENDIASS / IASS — England
Local impartial information, advice and support for families, children and young people.
Wales
The Welsh Government ALN toolkit explains rights, support, IDPs, advocacy and disagreement resolution.
Scotland
Enquire provides information and advice about additional support for learning in Scotland.
Northern Ireland
The Education Authority provides information about SEN support, assessment and services.
15. Official Sources & Quick Help Directory
The main information is explained on this page. These links are provided so families can find local Portage services, check statutory guidance or obtain specialist independent support.
Early Years SEND — England
EHCPs — England
Family Support
Independent SEND Advice
Wales
Northern Ireland
Key Message
Portage Home Visiting Services can provide valuable early educational support for babies and young children with SEND, additional support needs or developmental delays.
Portage works by helping families build development and learning into ordinary everyday life through play, interaction, communication and achievable small steps.
Parents and carers are central to the process. Their understanding of their child should be respected and included when goals are chosen and progress is reviewed.
Children should not automatically be left without developmental or educational support because they are still waiting for a formal diagnosis.
Portage may work alongside Speech and Language Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Physiotherapy, paediatrics, early-years SEND services, nursery support and other professionals.
Good transition planning can help make sure knowledge about the child is carried forward when they start nursery or school.
Families should keep useful developmental evidence, know what support has been agreed and ask how progress will be reviewed.
Where a child's needs are significant and ongoing, families should also consider the wider statutory education system that applies in their part of the UK, rather than relying on Portage alone.
Right First Time UK — Information Notice
Right First Time UK provides general public information, awareness resources and signposting.
We are not the National Portage Association, a Portage provider, local authority, nursery, school, NHS service, therapy provider, SEND Tribunal, law firm or regulated legal advice provider.
Portage availability, referral routes, eligibility, age limits and delivery models vary between local areas.
The SEND and EHCP information on this page mainly concerns England. Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland use different statutory education systems and terminology.
Families should check current local and national guidance and seek appropriate education, health, therapy or legal advice where required.