Durham Portage Service

What is Portage?

Portage is a home-based teaching service for pre-school children who have developmental or learning difficulties, a physical difficulty or other additional support needs. It is an international scheme which originated in a town called Portage in Wisconsin, USA. Trained Portage workers visit your home weekly and work together with you to help your child learn new skills.

Who is the Portage Service for?

The Portage Service is for children from birth to three and a half years old, living in County Durham who have additional support needs. These children may have had identified difficulties from birth or their development may have become a cause for concern.

How does Portage work?

A Portage Worker will talk to you about the service we can offer and together we decide if you and your child would benefit from the service. We start by finding out what your child can already do. We acknowledge that you know your child best and Portage builds on this knowledge. Your Portage Worker will work with you to plan activities so that your child learns new skills in 'small steps'. The activities promote development through play and for a few minutes each day your family can practise and record the activities with your child.

Who are the Portage Workers?

Portage Workers have experience of working with young children and children with special educational needs. They are skilled at recording and observing what your child can do as well as what the next steps in learning should be. They will help you to access the support and services available and will promote and support your child's participation in the community.

Durham Portage Service is registered with the National Portage Association and we base our service delivery on its recommended guidelines.

How to contact us

If you think we could help you and your child, please contact us at:

Durham Portage Service

Educational Psychology Service

County Durham Education Development Centre
Enterprise Way
Spennymoor
DL16 6YP

Tel: 01388 424950
Fax: 01388 813512
email: Educational Psychology Service