Portage is a home teaching service for families with pre-school children who have Special Educational Needs and/or Disabilities (SEND). The success and popularity of Portage is based on the premise that it promotes parents/carers as the key figures in the development of their child Torbay Portage Service – Family Hub (torbayfamilyhub.org.uk)

Occupational Health referrals – Children and Family Health (childrenandfamilyhealthdevon.nhs.uk) Email: CFHD.DevonSPA@nhs.net Tel: 0330 024 5321

Mayfield outreach can be requested if you require support with physical and sensory needs. Outreach Services – Torbay Council

Sensory and Physical Needs – Family Hub (torbayfamilyhub.org.uk)

Helpful Resources for specific needs (Dyslexia, Dyspraxia/Developmental Coordination Disorder, Dyscalculia or Classic Tic Disorders) – Family Hub (torbayfamilyhub.org.uk)

Advice sheets about expected development:

Early Years Therapies Toolkit – Children and Family Health (childrenandfamilyhealthdevon.nhs.uk)

These activities need to be tried for 2 to 3 months prior to making a request for Speech and Language Therapy or Occupational Therapy, with the exception for requests for children or young people who are stammering, which should be made immediately.

The advice sheets below are ordered in age and contain information on typical development for their age, what to look out for in your child and which toolkits to access below if there are concerns.

• Age 0 – 6 months  0-6-1.pdf (childrenandfamilyhealthdevon.nhs.uk)
• Age 6 – 12 months 6-12.pdf (childrenandfamilyhealthdevon.nhs.uk)
• Age 12 – 18 months 12-18.pdf (childrenandfamilyhealthdevon.nhs.uk)
• Age 18 – 24 months 18-24.pdf (childrenandfamilyhealthdevon.nhs.uk)
• Age 2 – 3 years 2-3.pdf (childrenandfamilyhealthdevon.nhs.uk)    
• Age 3 – 4 years 3-4.pdf (childrenandfamilyhealthdevon.nhs.uk)

Physical skills advice sheets:

• Developing cutlery skills Devon-Developing_cutlery_skills.pdf (childrenandfamilyhealthdevon.nhs.uk) >
• Developing pre-writing skills Devon-Developing_pre-writing_skills.pdf (childrenandfamilyhealthdevon.nhs.uk)
• Sensory processing Devon-Early_Years-Sensory_processing.pdf (childrenandfamilyhealthdevon.nhs.uk)
• Encouraging new foods Devon-Encouraging_new_foods.pdf (childrenandfamilyhealthdevon.nhs.uk)
• Developing balance skills Devon_Developing_balance_skills.pdf (childrenandfamilyhealthdevon.nhs.uk)
• Developing dressing skills Devon_Developing_Dressing_skills.pdf (childrenandfamilyhealthdevon.nhs.uk)
• Developing hand skills Devon_Developing_hand_skills.pdf (childrenandfamilyhealthdevon.nhs.uk)
• Developing motor skills – rolling and sitting Devon_Developing_motor_skills_rolling_and_sitting.pdf (childrenandfamilyhealthdevon.nhs.uk)
• Fun ways to play Devon_Fun_ways-to-play.pdf (childrenandfamilyhealthdevon.nhs.uk)
• Learning to ride a tricycle Devon_Learning-to-ride-a-tricycle.pdf (childrenandfamilyhealthdevon.nhs.uk)
• Potty training Devon_Potty_training.pdf (childrenandfamilyhealthdevon.nhs.uk)
• Sleep Devon_Sleep.pdf (childrenandfamilyhealthdevon.nhs.uk)
• Standing and walking Devon_Standing_and_walking.pdf (childrenandfamilyhealthdevon.nhs.uk)
• Tummy time Devon_Tummy_time.pdf (childrenandfamilyhealthdevon.nhs.uk)
• Using both hands Devon_Using_both_hands.pdf (childrenandfamilyhealthdevon.nhs.uk)

Specialist Dental Services provide a specialised dental service for adults and children with complex needs who find it difficult to use general dental services: Community Dental Service – Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust

Contact has produced some useful guidance regarding dental care for your young child with SEND (contact.org.uk) a_parents_guide_to_dental_care__web_single.pdf (contact.org.uk)