About the National Portage Association

The National Portage Association (NPA) is national charity, supporting Portage services, families and professionals involved in Portage.

The NPA operates at national and regional level throughout England and Wales, supporting individual members, registered services and settings who have been awarded the NPA Stamp of Approval award.

NPA Mission Statement

"Improving the learning of young children with disabilities, and the skills of their parents, through providing quality training and support for Portage home visitors and the early years workforce."

Portage started in a town in Wisconsin, USA and has been established in the UK since 1976. The National Portage Association was established in 1983.

NPA Aims

At the National Portage Association we are passionate about supporting children, parents and families and aim to…

  • work with families to help them develop a quality of life and experience for themselves and their young children in which they can learn together, play together, participate and be included in their community in their own right;
  • play a part in minimising the disabling barriers that confront young children and their families receiving Portage services;
  • support the national and local development of inclusive services for children.

NPA Objectives

Our Association strives to fulfil these aims and to maintain our principles through the development and promotion of the Portage model of support.

To develop and promote the Portage model our Association undertakes the following specific activities:

  • offering a Code of Practice as a framework for delivering Portage services and reviewing this Code as appropriate;
  • supporting quality of service by providing training with an agreed curriculum as a standard for Portage Home Visitors;
  • listening and responding to members individual or selective concerns at local, regional and national level;
  • encouraging new developments in the delivery of Portage support;
  • developing a training curriculum that responds to the training needs of parents, Portage services and professionals associated with the Portage Model;
  • working collaboratively with other organisations dedicated to supporting families and young children;
  • campaigning for all families with a young child with additional support needs to have early access to Portage;
  • keeping members informed about Portage via a regular e-newsletter, regional networking days and an annual conference;
  • offering an Open Awards Level 3 qualification -'The Portage Model - A Small Steps Approach to Learning for Children with Special Educational Needs'