Published on Thursday 09 October 2025
pictured above: Chris Bott
BCP Council’s Portage team, a specialist home-visiting education service for children with Special Educational Needs (SEND), is encouraging families, especially fathers, to take an active role in their child's early education.
Fathers and male carers have a positive impact on a child’s development, and this is why the team is asking male family members to get in touch.
As part of the Portage Service, each family is awarded a support officer who works with them in their home and encourages learning and development using fun play and learn strategies.
Once a family is involved in the Portage Service, they can access support and tools to build knowledge and to empower parents as well as tailored stay and play sessions for our Portage families.
Chris Bott, a Portage Service user and father from Bournemouth, said: "The service has taught me what I need to know. It’s taught me there is an opportunity for our child to learn in a different way.
“You try and find out what’s best for you. But having a referral through the health visitor into the Portage scheme really helped my family.”
Cllr Richard Burton, BCP Council’s Portfolio Holder for Children’s Services said: “Our amazing Portage service works with the whole family unit once they are in our care. We focus on what children can do not what they can’t do.
“Often contact to our service is made by mums and female carers but we are actively asking for the whole family to be involved, especially fathers.
“Fathers and male figures in the family have a great impact on their family and this includes preschool children. We are really encouraging more applications and engagement with the service from fathers and male carers.”
The Portage service in the BCP Council area is 5 star accredited by the National Portage Association. It works with families who have children with SEND aged 0-4 years old.
Find out more about how Portage could support your child and family here Portage Service - BCP Council .