Early years, Portage and inclusion for disabled children

The Early Years, Portage and Inclusion Service offers coordinated, family-focused support to young disabled children and their families.

The Early Support Service works along with parents, carers and any professionals who are involved in providing support to a child with complex needs to make sure that the child's needs are at the centre of discussions and that all services take an integrated approach to planning for the needs of the child.  

The Portage team promotes the health, development and wellbeing of very young children with disabilities or those at risk of developmental delay. The Portage model, which is nationally recognised and accredited, provides a structured home-based teaching service which works in partnership with parents, carers and other professionals. Portage uses a combination of structured teaching, child-led play and family support according to the family's needs. It also offers families support with helping their child to access early years childcare.

Early years inclusion

The Early Years Inclusion Team provides training and support to childcare providers (including childminders) so that children with disabilities and additional needs are able to receive appropriate and inclusive childcare and early learning when accessing their setting.

The Early Years, Portage and Inclusion Service offers outreach activities and services via children's centres and at the Prospects Centre. It offers play sessions as well as drop-in sessions in partnership with the National Autistic Society, the Parent Partnership Service and other support services, and a library which is accessible to parents and to professionals.