BCP Portage Stay and Play (Kinson and West Howe)

Bournemouth, Christchurch & Poole (BCP Council) Portage Service

Where

When

The activity runs from 13 June 2022 to 12 December 2022. The Dorset Youth does not manage bookings for this activity and is not responsible for the delivery of the project. If you have any questions, please contact the organisation directly.

What

Stay and Play is an extension of the BCP Portage service, which is primarily a home visiting educational service for pre-school children with Special Educational Needs and/or Disabilities (SEND) and their families.
The relaxed and informal Stay and Play sessions provide a safe, nurturing space for you to play with your child/ren using a range of interactive toys, sensory exploration, and activities. The emphasis is always on play and having fun.
These sessions are by invitation only and are aimed at parents of children who are on the waiting list for Portage support.

How does it work?

The sessions are led by at least one Portage officer with experience in the learning and development of young children with SEN/D and trained in the Portage techniques and strategies. They will work with you to identify your child’s preferred play activities and learning styles and will suggest activities that you can practice at home to develop your child’s play, learning and communication. We may also be joined by colleagues from the Health Visiting service and other parts of Children’s services which gives you an opportunity to find out more about local services and the support available.

What does a session look like?

Each session lasts for an hour and is based around free play and following your child’s lead. The Portage small steps approach to learning and key communication strategies will be modelled during the session and will build on your child’s areas of interest and strengths. There will be opportunities to share tips and experiences with other parents and time to gain information or ask questions. The session will end with a short nursery rhyme session using objects of reference, picture cards and simple signs to support your child to choose their favourite song/rhyme.

What will I need?

Just bring yourself, your child/ren and be ready to get involved with the fun activities on offer. The sessions are free of charge and the specialist equipment/toys will be provided by the Portage service/Family Hubs.

Booking is essential, via an email, from parents stating the following:

• name of your child
• name of the family hub (Kinson and West Howe Family Hub)

To find out more call: 01202 127626

SEND specialist