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Here are some suggested organisations that offer expert advice on special needs.

Original poster

Portage

34 replies

lou33 · 03/11/2003 20:23

Just had the Ed Psych round and she has agreed ds2 will benefit from Portage, so he's going on the list. Mind you he is getting on a bit for a Portage child so I wonder if he will be seen before he is too old, lol!

OP posts:
Jimjams · 03/11/2003 20:26

DS1 didn't start portage until he was over 3 - and it continued until he was over 4. I did keep being told how old he was for portage but they kept extending his terms (i was told we would only get one term becuase of his age, but we ended up with 3- ie a whole academic year)

fio2 · 03/11/2003 20:31

portage is brill louSmile dont turn it down. My dd was about 2 1/2 but it is great!! better than any other therapies we've hadSmile

Original poster
lou33 · 03/11/2003 21:27

Blimey Fio, no chance of me turning it down! Anything that helps him is ok in my books, even better if I don't have to leave the house .

Dd1 had it about 9 years ago, and we loved it then. Hopefully they can help him with his people and confidence problems, so he's better prepared for nursery.

The Ed Psych said she might be the one seeing him when he is statemented ,too.

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mrsforgetful · 04/11/2003 00:28

LOU33- Did the ed psych actually visit you at home!!!???

ds2 has only been observed at school- i wanted the community paed to visit at home and she said "this wasn't normal practice"...Do I have any rights? (on the NHS that is?)

Original poster
lou33 · 04/11/2003 01:02

Yes she did mrsF. She seemed to think it completely normal, as it was Portage she was assessing him for and it is being done at home. She spoke as though she did it all the time. She said if she does end up being the ed psych who deals with statementing him she will probably visit him at home when a Portage session is going on. Also I noticed how v young she seemed, made me feel old and wrinkly, with her youthful skin and lack of need for any make up whatsoever!

I have no idea about your rights though, but there must be some way of getting a home visit surely? Just because it isn't normal practise shouldn't mean it is impossible I hope. It doesn't seem any harder to do a home visit compared to a school one does it? I hope you get it.

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ThomCat · 04/11/2003 10:03

I set up Portage myself when Lottie was weeks old! It's the best form of support that we receive and the fact that you don't have to leave your home and take yet another trip to the hospital is just wonderful as you can all imagine. They will continue to see your child until they start school. I'm so pleased you're getting Portage support Lou.

doormat · 04/11/2003 10:07

Lou I loved the portage, it was great for my ds.
Go for it

mrsforgetful · 04/11/2003 14:49

Lou33 thanks!

fio2 · 04/11/2003 17:21

sorry for being dumb louSmile our ed psych was lovely toSmile

eidsvold · 04/11/2003 18:36

lucky for you they have portage in your area - I contacted the portage association only to be told they do not do it in our area.....

Original poster
lou33 · 04/11/2003 20:17

Eidsvold, there is a charity called KIDS, which is based in West London. They used to do Portage for dd1. If you give them a call they may be able to help you find a similar charity in your area. It might be worth a try.

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Davros · 04/11/2003 20:25

Yes, was going to say that charity called KIDs does portage in LB Camden. I think they have one or two offices, not all London.

Original poster
Lou33 · 04/12/2003 17:49

Ds had his first Portage today! First of all we went to Portage coffee morning, where a load of mums and kids met up, let them play etc. At the end they handed out Christmas presents for all the children, so ds was really happy (he got a book). Then we came home and an hour later we had Portage. It was mostly a q & a session this time, filling in the booklet thingy, but interspersed with playtime. Ds loved the fact she brought a box of cars just for him to play with , lol. Anyway, he now classes her as his friend, and is looking forward to next week. Glad he liked her.

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Blu · 04/12/2003 17:51

That sounds GREAT!
Brilliant, and glad that it is working out.

fio2 · 04/12/2003 17:52

thats great lou. We used to go to the coffee mornings tooSmile Glad your ds saw her as a friend, thats lovely.

fairydust · 04/12/2003 18:43

lou33 - sorry to sound rude but what is portage???

fairydust · 04/12/2003 18:45

lou33 - sorry to sound rude but what is portage???

doormat · 04/12/2003 19:05

Oh wonderful news Lou, glad your ds liked her
They really know how to make kids feel special dont they.

fio2 · 04/12/2003 20:03

fairydust its a bit like play therapy. I think they call it a home teaching service. You have a portage worker who comes to your house once a week for about an hour to work on your childs skills through play. Then at the end of the session they set you a task or more to work on through the week. They also do six monthly reviews to see how much progress your child has made and where you want to go with her skillls - like what you want to work on next. There is a website - will try and find it.....

fio2 · 04/12/2003 20:04

www.portage.org.uk

Original poster
Lou33 · 04/12/2003 20:51

Fio, you make a wonderful secretary .

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fairydust · 04/12/2003 21:02

is there a criteria the child needs to meet

Original poster
Lou33 · 04/12/2003 21:12

The ed psych who assessed ds2 said he needed to be behind in 2 or more areas of development to qualify, but it may vary from area to area, so i would ask the paed to refer you.

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fairydust · 04/12/2003 21:14

yeh - i will thanks for the info all

fio2 · 04/12/2003 22:30

lol louSmile