Special needs teaching service

Tower Hamlets portage service

Tower Hamlets portage service is a home teaching service for pre-school children with special needs. The Service offers a weekly home teaching programme using the Portage Checklist and Activity Chart.

All activities set are agreed with the parent who will then carry out the teaching each day and will records the outcomes. Successes are celebrated with the family and Home Visitor each week.

Our aim is to help parents become confident in using their own skills to help their child. Therefore, working in partnership with parents is a main principal of the Portage model.

Since April 1990 the Tower Hamlets Portage Service has been funded entirely by the Tower Hamlets Education Authority. In September 1999 the Service became part of the Early Years Service but is based at the SEN Centre in Harford Street.

Team members attend weekly supervision meetings, where individual cases are discussed and successes celebrated and problems shared. The Service offers 1-1½ hour weekly home visits and the referral criteria is as follows:

• Children from birth to five years old living in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets
• Children not in receipt of daily early years provision
• Children who have a condition known to be linked with learning difficulties or other developmental delay
• Children with developmental delays as ascertained by a developmental assessment at any stage, and delayed in more than one area of development
• Parents must be willing to make time available for the Portage Worker’s weekly visit as well as carrying out daily teaching activities.

The Service has a multi-disciplinary Advisory Committee consisting of a range of professionals and representatives from parents receiving the service. They meet regularly to receive a report from the Portage Manager and to discuss future developments of the service.

Portage ends when the child goes into full time nursery or school or the family no longer require the service. The phasing out period occurs over a period of up to one term. With a gradual reduction in home visits, school visits are made and introductions to any new relevant agencies made.

Home Teaching Service for Pre School Children with Additional Needs
SEN Centre Annex
85 Harford Street
London E1 4PY

Tel: 020 7364-6491
Fax: 020 7364-6441
E-mail: Portage@towerhamlets.gov.uk

Open: Monday to Friday 9am-4pm (term-time only)
Nearest tube station: Mile End & Stepney Green
Nearest bus stops: 25, 309, 339, 277, D6, D7