Southampton SEND & Portage Early Years Specialist Service
Contact us
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Address
Civic Centre
Lower ground floor
North Block
Southampton
Hampshire
SO14 7LY
About
- The SEND & Portage Early Years Specialist Service offers teaching group sessions in the community, home teaching visits and parent training courses for young children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) aged 0-3 years
- who are delayed in at least two areas of development
Opening times
Monday to Friday 9am - 5pm (term-time only).
Catchment area
Southampton
Target group
We support children and families in Southampton who meet the following eligibility criteria:
- The family live in the Southampton local authority area.
- The child is aged 0– 3 years
- The child’s development is delayed by at least 6 months in two or more areas of development.
- Parental consent has been obtained.
- The child’s parent/carer must be available to meet the Portage teacher on a regular basis.
Further information
What training do we have? All SEND & Portage Early Years Specialists have:· Foundation degree level qualifications in child development, · Significant experience of working within Early Years, · Significant experience of Special Educational Needs, · Significant experience of working with families, · Completed Portage Workshop, · Staff receive on-going training through the National Portage Development training program, as well as through Southampton City Council’s workforce development programme. When necessary, we seek and provide additional training based on needs identified by the SEND & Portage Early Years Specialist, relating to working with children with specific special educational needs and disabilities. How do we communicate with service users and how are they involved in decision? Parents/carers and children are partners in all aspects of the SEND & Portage Early Years Specialist Service delivery. All sessions in the home or at group includes both adult and child-led activities so that parents/carers and children have the opportunity to lead and influence the play and learning that takes place. SEND & Portage Early Years Specialist Service will take into consideration the child’s likes and dislikes, the family’s day-to-day lives and their aspirations for their child, these are all included in the planning of each play session. If the service is working with a family where by English is not their first language, they may ask if there’s a family member or friend who could act as a translator. If there isn’t anyone or the family don’t feel comfortable with this, employing a translator would be considered.
Referral method
Self-referral or referral by other professionals involved.
This information was supplied by Serco Global Services on 17 July 2026.