About Portage Home Teaching Service
The Portage Home Teaching Service supports children aged 0–5 who have additional needs or significant delays in two or more areas of their development. Originating from a model first established in Portage, Wisconsin, the service provides early intervention through personalised, family centred support.
Our small but dedicated team work closely with families in their homes, alongside nurseries, children’s centres, family hubs, health services and wider partners. The aim is to help children develop essential early skills, build confidence and independence, and ensure families feel supported throughout their child’s early years journey.
Key services provided
- Homebased teaching sessions tailored to each child’s strengths, needs and interests
- Observations, assessments and collaborative goalsetting using small, achievable developmental steps
- Practical guidance for families using everyday toys and household items to support learning
- Access to sessions in children’s centres and family hubs, offering play opportunities and peer support
- Specialist support for children with a wide range of developmental, medical, complex and communication need
- Signposting to relevant health, education and community services
- Emotional support for families adjusting to their child’s additional needs
Eligibility/criteria
Portage supports children aged 0–5 who have a recognised delay in two or more areas of development, or who have emerging or diagnosed additional needs that require early intervention.
Referrals can be made by health professionals, early years settings, or families themselves. Support typically begins in the home and may expand to group sessions or joint working with nurseries and other professionals as the child grows.
Service impact
Families accessing our warm and caring Portage Service describe feeling more confident, informed and supported as they help their child take meaningful developmental steps. Our team build strong, trusting relationships with children, creating safe and positive learning environments where progress - no matter how small - can flourish.
Impact includes:
- Improved communication, play and early learning skills
- Greater confidence for parents in supporting development at home
- Stronger emotional wellbeing for families adjusting to additional needs
- Positive transitions into early years settings
- Memorable shared experiences between children and their families
The service is holistic, recognising that supporting a child effectively means supporting the wider family too.
Future plans and developments
- Continuing to expand group based opportunities within children’s centres and family hubs
- Developing more accessible resources for families to use at home
- Strengthening collaboration with health, early years and community partners
- Ensuring provision remains responsive to the needs of children with increasingly complex developmental profiles
- Promoting early identification and referral to maximise the impact of early intervention
More information
Learn more about the Portage Service, make a referral or request advice.
- On our website: Early Support Team
- Email: portageservice@bury.gov.uk
The team also run open sessions in our Family Hubs for children with special educational needs or disabilities. Little Stars caters for children aged 0 – 2, and All Stars caters for older children up to 5 years old.
- Find out about available sessions on our Padlet
More information about our SEND Local Offer is available on our website.
- See: SEND Local Offer