Bourne and District Portage Service

Portage is a home visiting educational service for pre-school children with additional needs and their families. These may be learning difficulties, developmental delay, physical difficulties, PMLD and Autism.

We also hold stay and play sessions for Portage families and this gives them a chance to share ideas whilst allowing the children to socialise, explore and learn through play.

Support offered through Portage is based on the principle that parents are the key figure in the care and development of their child and Portage aims to help parents to be confident in this role whatever their child's needs may be.

The Bourne and District Portage Service  provides Portage for families in Bourne, Stamford, Market Deeping and surrounding areas. The Bourne and District team consists of one coordinator and one Portage Home Visitor, who visits the home either weekly or fortnightly as relevant to a particular family. There is an additional Portage trained member of staff who runs the stay and play sessions.

Families can self refer (please see attached form) or be referred by any professional involved with the child such Paediatrician, Health Visitor, GP, Speech and Language Therapist, Early Years Provider etc.  We accept referrals for children from birth.

For further information on what Portage is please visit www.portage.org.uk

Who to contact

Contact Name
Vicki Billyard
Contact Position
Portage Coordinator
Telephone
01778 425203 01778 425203
E-mail
vbillyard@prioryacademies.co.uk
Website
Willoughby Academy Website
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Where to go

Name
The Willoughby Academy
Address
The Willoughby Academy
South Road
Bourne
Lincolnshire
Postcode

PE10 9JD

View PE10 9JD on a map
Notes

The service is provided in the home but the Portage team are based at Willoughby Academy.

Rainbow Group - One session held in school each week with a second held at the Bourne Children's Centre.  This is a stay and play group for children with additional needs and their parents. Access to the group is by referral only.

Other Details

Availability

Referral required
Professional Referral
Referral Details

The Bourne and District Portage team cover an area with South Kesteven District Council, namely PE6, PE9 and PE10 postcodes.

See attached referral form.  Referrals can be made by parents/carers or any other agencies involved with the child to
Vicki Billyard (Portage Coordinator)
Willoughby Academy
South Road
Bourne
PE10 9JD

01778 425203

vbillyard@prioryacademies.co.uk

Other notes

Portage workers have training and experience in using Makaton signing and symbols. 

Specific age range
0 - 5 Years

Local Offer

Description

Portage is a positive home visiting service offering 1:1 support for children with additional needs and their families. We can support with transitions into nursery settings and schools, if required. We liaise with other professionals including Educational Psychologists, Speech and Language Therapists Physiotherapists, Occupational Therapists, Health Visitors, SESS, Birth to Five Service, ESCO workers and nursery staff. We support children in generalising their skills and empowering parents to support their children.

Portage families have access to stay and play sessions at both Willoughby Academy and Bourne Children's Centre.  Both environments have facilities accessible to disabilities.

All our Portage team have completed the National Portage Association Portage Basic Training workshop required to deliver the service.  
Portage Workers have training in Makaton, Safeguarding, PECS (Picture Exchange Communication System) and Sensory Integration.

 

Local Offer Age Bands
Early Years (0-4 years)
SEN Provision Type
Targeted

This service is listed for your information. Its inclusion on the Family Services Directory does not imply endorsement, approval or recommendation by Lincolnshire County Council. For more information, go to Terms & Conditions

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