Eligibility FOR PORTAGE
Please read before completing a referral form.
Referral System
Referrals are accepted directly from parent/carers, and they may also be made by other professionals working with a family with their agreement to refer the child. Referrals should not be made by a third party without parental consent.
Parents and settings must fully understand the Portage approach and the level of commitment, which they are encouraged to make.
Referral forms can be obtained from the Website https://wiltshireportage.org.uk and must have verbal permission given by the parent/carer, and MUST be accompanied with information on the child’s development level and recent progress (e.g., My Support Plan, My Plan, developmental screening information, medical report, ESA/One Plan)
Criteria
Wiltshire Portage is available to children and families who meet all the following criteria:
At the point of referral, the child must:
1. Geographical Area
The family must live in the following areas - Wiltshire excluding Swindon Borough Council Area.
2. Age of Child
The child needs to be between birth and school entry and have at least one academic year before starting school (from receipt of referral), unless the child does not currently have any specialist provision e.g., District Specialist Centre.
3. Developmental
The child will have a medical diagnosis or under review medical conditions e.g., Autism, genetic syndromes, physical disabilities, medical syndromes, and neurological developmental conditions. And or has significant delay in one or more area of development one area must be thinking/cognition.
4. Family Commitment
The child’s parents/carers must commit to meet with the Portage Home Visitor weekly during term time at a mutually agreed time, in the family home, and to carry out activities left by the Portage Home Visitor.
5. Visits
The number of visits will be based on the needs of the families across the entire Wiltshire Portage service area. A block of visits will last no longer than six months. A family may go back to inactive or be discharged at this time.
6. Portage alongside other Sessions
Portage to be 1 of 18 hours (or 21 hours if the child is not attending a District Specialist Centre) sessions for the child each week, other sessions include nursery, pre-school and childminder, Tumble Tots, Conductive Education, Sing & Sign or Swimming as a therapy, Brainwave, Private therapies e.g., Speech and language, physiotherapy etc.
To remain in receipt of Portage Delivery
The family and child must meet the criteria’s above for living in the Service area, be of the correct age to receive Portage. Commit to Portage visits and be within the hours of attending an early year setting or District Specialist Centre (see no 6)
The child must also have significant developmental delay of 50% in 2 or more areas of development or 30% under 3 years of age. One area must include cognition/thinking, after a Wiltshire Portage assessment.
Discharge
Any family that no longer meets one or any of the criteria above will be discharged from the Service at any time.
They will also be discharged if
1.Delayed/Deferred School Entry
We will not see any children who have a delayed/deferred entry to school.
2. Borderline Children
Children who the Service deem borderline after a Wiltshire Portage assessment, will be discharged and can re refer to the Service after six months.
3. Educational Health Care Needs Assessment or an Educational Health Care Plan
If a child has a proposed EHCP or an EHCP, and the child is due to start school this academic year. The child and family will be either discharged from the Service or not receive the Service.
The deadline for children going to School September 2027 for a Portage referral is 31st August 2026.
For children starting School September 2026- the deadline is now closed.
Places will be offered at the CEO/Managers discretion.
Please do not hesitate to contact the Service Manager on 07780 653888
