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Original poster

Being referred for portage.

18 replies

Piffleoffagus · 20/08/2004 11:42

dd is 21 mths has Noonan Syndrome etc she is small for her age but now walks and is pretty gorgeous all in all and I would place her within "normal" brackets pretty much developmentally...
Was recently discussing her developement on here an came to conlusion she was pretty much bumping along nicely enough etc
Today HV has said that when we move in 2 weeks, that we ask to be referred for portage.
Now simply...
what the hell is portage, why is she being referred? And what does it mean for dd?
ThomCat kindly sent me a portage checklist, dd came out really well on it. is this an indicator? What benefits can it bring?
HV really just said that and then nothing explained to me?
Help!!!!

OP posts:
coppertop · 20/08/2004 11:58

Our portage worker was brilliant. I can't thank her enough for all she has done for us.

A portage worker will visit you at home regularly (ours was once a fortnight) to offer help, advice, guidance etc and give practical suggestions about what you can do to help your child. The help you get will vary according to your child's needs but ours did things like:

  • suggesting ways to help with ds1's sensory problems;

  • working with us and ds1's SALT to write social stories to help with ds1's toilet-training and bedtime routines;

  • giving us information about what extra help we could get (Family Fund, DLA etc)

  • arranging a place for ds1 in a summer playscheme;

  • chasing up paperwork for us;

  • trying to get our HV involved with ds1 (this failed but not through lack of effort!)

Our portage worker was also our Early Years Inclusion Service worker so she also set up IEP meetings with ds1's pre-school and arranged for the local Reception teacher to attend. She has also been able to advise us about ds2 and arranged for him to be put on the waiting lists for SALT and the Paed, rather than waiting until his 2yr development check. I can honestly say that she made our lives about a hundred times easier.

Original poster
Piffleoffagus · 20/08/2004 12:01

Thanks CT
The way she mentioned it made it sound like it was a trial and worry!!!
Sounds like it might be good option to undertake, however minimal my worries are, it sounds like a grand service all in all
Thanks

OP posts:
lou33 · 20/08/2004 12:09

It's basically play therapy, and ds2 loved it when he was doing it. You may not qualify for it though, if dd is doing as well as you say. An assesment will be done first to see if there is any benefit to be gained by giving portage. If there is the checklist thing will be gone through in more detail, and they can then build up a profile of where your dd needs extra input. For example, when ds2 did it, he was really delayed with everything physical, esp gross motor, but his speech and language skills we at school age level, so they developed a play session about building up his fine motor skills (physio concentrate on gross motor), and also worked on his confidence levels. It really was a great thing to have, and now he has settled into his nursery so much easier, than if he hadn't done it. Hth.

Fio2 · 20/08/2004 12:14

everyone else has explained it brilliantly, just want to add our portage worker was wonderful and dd loved herSmile well worth it, not a trial or worry at all!

Original poster
Piffleoffagus · 20/08/2004 13:32

dd has physio for mild hypotonia and has come on brilliantly with minimal work, the HV is concerned about some delay in gross motor, but this has been down to the hypotonia so she will grow out of it as she strengthens up and gains more weight.
Also she mentioned speech, but dd understands well, communicates easily, points, knows loads, can follow commands etc
This HV has always been pushing me to refer on for speech therapy, perhaps this might shut her up if dd gets a portage evaluation and it is then found not to be needed, which is what I suspect..
Thanks everyone , really appreicate it!

OP posts:
maddiemo · 20/08/2004 14:08

My ds3 had portage and it was a great help. Our portage teacher did his IEPs, observed him at nursery, transferred him to an sn nursery when he could no longer cope mainstream. She gave us a lot of advice and was always very honest and open. We had portage sessions at home once a week and also attended a portage playgroup once a fortnight.

It will be worth having the assessment done Piffleoffagus. They can advise as to whether speech therapy is necessary. They may also be able to help you find other mums with children with the same syndrome.

Can I ask a favour, ds4 is due to have a potage assessment in a few weeks. I did not realise that there was an actual checklist. Would you be able to post it or send it to me via contact another talker. Like you I am not really sure if it is necessary for ds4 so would like to have an idea of what is checked.
Thanks

heartinthecountry · 20/08/2004 14:09

God, amazing how services vary from area to area.

Have to say I am really disappointed with our portage worker. She just sort of plonks toys down in front of dd and kind of leaves her to play with them (so I end up doing everything). I've only really continued her visits because she does bring lots of good toys which we can keep for as long as we need them so it saves me trips to the toy library - also, it does mean I dedicate that hour to dd and active play.

I think that is rare though and most others seem to have a great experience.

Also, piff cannot believe how much your HV does and is involved. Ours visited once and not a peep since.

fairydust · 20/08/2004 15:58

does anyone have a copy of the portage "CHECKLIST"

Fio2 · 20/08/2004 16:03

HITC - I WOULD COMPLAIN, ring the office say you dont get on with her, she should NOT be doing that at all!! Angry

piff if they will give your daughter speech therapy, take it, every little thing helps!Smile

Dingle · 20/08/2004 16:29

I believe I may have the Portage Checklist that you've mentioned.
I do have a few different ones. One is called "The 'New' Cognitive Checklist" 11 pages of tick sheets with a few pages of Teaching suggestions at the back.The second is a series of checklists made up into a book, published by NFER-NELSON, this is all in different sections, eg. infant stimulation,socialization,self help,cognitive,motor,language. The third I have is again by NFER-NELSON and is a guideto early movement skills.

heartinthecountry · 20/08/2004 16:37

I know I should Fio2 but although she's crap she is actually quite sweet and I'd feel bad. She is on secondment from Educational Psychology and dd is her first case so she is just very inexperienced. I think because all the other services we get are very good it hasn't mattered so much, otherwise I definitely would have complained. Anyway she will stop coming when dd goes to the EArly Intervention Centre in a few weeks time.

Fio2 · 20/08/2004 16:39

sorry to be so bossy Blush

Original poster
Piffleoffagus · 20/08/2004 16:55

I have the list, I can get dp to copy it on monday and can send it off etc, or maybe scan it and email it even

Will check back monday say yes if you need a copy..

OP posts:
maddiemo · 20/08/2004 17:16

Yes please piffleoffagus or dingle. I will cover any expenses, postage copying etc.
Thankyou

coppertop · 20/08/2004 17:53

We didn't have a checklist for ds1. The SALT referred us to the Early Years Inclusion Service after ds1's first SALT session. The EYIS caseworker asked if we were interested in portage and then arranged to be ds1's portage worker so that he wouldn't have to get used to someone new. I think we waited about 6 weeks altogether, although it would have been less if we hadn't arranged for a specific portage worker.

Dingle · 20/08/2004 21:03

Piff, have you got the same checksheets as me?

Caroline5 · 20/08/2004 21:19

HITC, our first portage worker was very inexperienced too. We worked on the same skill for weeks on end (trying to get dd to roll a ball or push a car back to us) - dd never got it and it was really frustrating for everybody! She was really nice though and very supportive of us and did wonders getting dd into her special school. Our second portage worker was great all round.

heartinthecountry · 20/08/2004 21:26

Difficult isn't it Caroline5? I know we could have got more from portage if we'd had a different worker. But, she has referred us to Ed Psych which means dd should get statemented really early and am sure that will help more in the long run.

Fio2 - your bossiness was well placed - I would have told me to complain and get someone else!!

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