Portage recognises and respects the pre-eminent role of parents in their children’s care and development; understands the need to provide psycho-social support for parents in a holistic sense so as to enable their independence and self efficacy and to optimise the all round care of their children.
Stockport’s Portage Service, in line with the National Portage Association, is founded on the following values and principles:
Areas Visited by Service - Portage
Areas Visited by the Portage Service: SK1 Stockport Central, SK2, SK3, SK4, SK5, SK6, SK7 and SK8
Autism Provision - Portage
The Overdale Positive Solutions Group (Tops) Provision for Young Autistic Children and their families. In recent years, a growing number of children with social communication difficulties and autistic spectrum disorders have been referred to the Portage Service. As a result, a specialist post was developed and is now well established within the service offering a range of services and support for families of these children.
Childminders' Links - Portage
Portage recognises the important role Childminders play in the lives of some children. Portage workers can visit children at their Childminders and will share individual programmes (with parental consent) to help focus on specific areas of the child’s development.
Early Years Settings - Portage
Traditionally the Portage Service has been home-based but in recent years has recognised a support need for children attending non maintained Early Years Settings (eg private day nurseries, play groups). Portage have applied for additional funding via Surestart to help address this need.
Friends of Portage - Stockport
Stockport Friends of Portage, which consists of a voluntary committee of parents and members of the Portage team, has now been established since 1995. The committee fundraises to provide social activities for our children and their families. Funding is provided for the children’s Christmas party, transport for parents to and from the Opportunity Groups, family outings and our brother and sisters group.
Home Visits - Portage
Children referred to the Portage Service are entered onto the waiting list. However the Service Manager usually visits to inform families of the range of services they can access prior to home visits.
Links with other Agencies - Portage
This includes the National Portage Association, Family Info Link and Stockport Surestart. We also have links with Manchester, Derbyshire and Tameside Councils.
Opportunity Groups - Portage
The aim of the Opportunity Group is for parent/carer and child to meet with others in a relaxed and friendly atmosphere, where children, including those with special needs, are able to play and learn together. The Portage Service currently offer two regular Opportunity Groups, these are based at Bredbury Green & Goyt Valley Children's Centre and Valley School.
Portage Service Stockport
Portage is an educational and support service for very young children with additional needs and their families. It is widely recognised that the most effective way of helping young children is to reinforce their parents’ confidence in their own abilities.
Referrals - Portage
Portage is appropriate for very young children (primarily 0 to 3 years) who have a delay in two or more areas of their development. Children can be referred by professionals (with parental permission) or by parents themselves. The completed form should be forwarded to the Children and Young People's Disability Partnership.
Sibling Groups - Portage
Over the years the Portage Service has become increasingly aware of the needs of the brothers and sisters of children with additional needs/disabilities. In response to this need, the Portage Service held its first “Brothers and Sisters Group” in 1995. Since then this has become an Annual Event in August of each year and it is funded each year by a substantial contribution from Stockport Friends of Portage.
Training and Workshops - Portage
The Portage Service provides a variety of training opportunities regarding all aspects of inclusive practice and other related topics for a variety of audiences. Each year the Portage Service supports educational psychologists in training in their work with early years children and their families.