National Portage Association - NPA

10/06/2026

📢The National Portage Association is attending a Parliamentary Reception on 1 July 2026 (1-3pm) – but we need your support!

We want to reach as many MPs as possible and raise awareness of Portage and the positive impact it has on children with additional needs and their families. We are encouraging all members, families, and supporters to contact their local MP and invite them to attend this important event at Parliament, where they can speak with us and learn more about the vital support provided through Portage services. (We will be located in Room P)

It will also provide an opportunity to highlight the disparities in Portage provision across the UK, with some areas having little or no access to Portage services at all. Our petition is also still active until 12 July, so please continue to share and support it. The link can be found on our social media pages.

✉️ Please take a few minutes to write to your MP and ask them to attend. A letter from a constituent can make all the difference. Your voice can help ensure that early SEND support remains high on the political agenda.

08/06/2026

💙 Carers Week 2026 💙

This week, we celebrate and recognise the millions of unpaid carers across the UK who provide essential support to family members, friends and loved ones every day. Portage services work alongside families of young children with additional needs and disabilities, and we see first-hand the dedication, resilience and love shown by parents and carers every day. Many parents of disabled children provide care well beyond what would normally be expected of a parent, often balancing appointments, therapies, advocacy, medical care, personal care and round-the-clock support.

43% of current or former carers report that their own physical or mental health has been negatively affected by their caring role.

This Carers Week, we want to say thank you to all parents, family members and unpaid carers who make a difference every single day. Your care, patience and advocacy help children and families thrive. Let us raise awareness of the additional pressures you face as a carer and become one step closer to ‘building carer friendly communities’ 💙

04/06/2026

📣 Join Us at the National Portage Association Regional Day in York!

We’re so excited for our upcoming Regional Day! Whether you’re an NPA member, early years professional, SEND parent, or someone passionate about supporting children and families, this event offers valuable insights, practical ideas, meaningful connections and learning opportunities. It’s open to anybody who wants to attend so share away…but make sure secure your place before they sell out! Places are limited

To secure your place fill in the form by clicking the link below (link can also be found in highlights on instagram)

https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=x-OWaxJeiUOlzlD7HHdFyLvgVi87-TRDkk1AHsofsedUMzlRMFBXQjE1RTYwVjdESVQ2VVNNN0JaSS4u

📅 19 June 2026
📍 Hudson Room, City of York Council Building
🕤 9:30am – 4:00pm

✨ Highlights include:
🎤 Abi Hall – An Introduction to Cerebral Visual Impairment
🎤 Karen Newell – Toy Like Me, MixMups and Sensory Story Sacks
⭐ Keynote Speaker: Jack Woodhams (Menfulness Charity)
Discussing how we can support dads and other non-primary parents during the early stages of their child’s SEND journey.

💷 £40 NPA Members
💷 £50 Non-Members
(Discount applied for non-members who join at the time of booking.)

02/06/2026

📢 Reminder for Portage Service Managers

A friendly reminder that our online Managers Meeting takes place tomorrow, Wednesday 3rd June at 10 am.
This is a great opportunity to connect, share updates, discuss current topics, and raise any questions or challenges you would like support with.
💬 Have something you’d like added to the agenda? Please email us in advance and we’ll do our best to include it in the discussion. [email protected]

🔗 Please check your emails for the meeting link and further information.

We look forward to seeing everyone online tomorrow! 💙

02/06/2026

📢 Reminder for Portage Service Managers

A friendly reminder that our online Managers Meeting takes place tomorrow, Wednesday 3rd June at 10 am.

This is a great opportunity to connect, share updates, discuss current topics, and raise any questions or challenges you would like support with.

💬 Have something you’d like added to the agenda? Please email us in advance and we’ll do our best to include it in the discussion. [email protected]

🔗 Please check your emails for the meeting link and further information.

We look forward to seeing everyone online tomorrow! 💙

18/05/2026

Guys we still need your help 📣‼️

Please take a moment to support this incredibly important petition from the National Portage Association. Early SEND support can make a life-changing difference for children and families — but right now, access depends too much on where you live in the UK.

https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/752530

You do NOT need to have personally used Portage services, know someone personally affected, or work in education to support this. But if you believe children with SEND deserve early help, equal opportunities, and the right support from the very beginning then please sign and share as far and wide as you can!! A simple share could help this reach someone who will sign too and displaying the petition in local areas on noticeboards or community spaces for us could help us reach our signature goal 🙏

✅ Sign the petition- (make sure to verify the email that is sent through afterwards or the signature doesn’t count)
✅ Share this post

Together, we can help ensure no child is left without early SEND support and has access to vital Portage services that have proven positive results and outcomes 💙

14/05/2026

💙Apraxia Awareness Day- Today we raise our voices for those still fighting to find theirs. 💙

Childhood Apraxia of Speech (CAS) is a motor speech disorder that makes it difficult for children to plan and produce clear speech sounds. Children with apraxia know what they want to say, but their brain has difficulty coordinating the movements needed for speech. CAS affects approximately 1 in 1,000 children, making communication a daily challenge for many families.

Early diagnosis, awareness, and speech therapy can make a life-changing difference. Let’s spread understanding, patience, and support for every child working hard to be heard. 🗣️ For more information about Apraxia and how you can support children with the condition Apraxia-Kids and The Apraxia Foundation: Hearing All Voices Inc. have some great information and support groups. (Please note: the NPA are not affiliated with these charities but are providing information to parents and professionals to research for their own needs)

💙 Every child deserves a voice.

EveryChildDeservesAVoice

13/05/2026

Mental Health Awareness Week 💚

Behind every child with additional needs is often a parent or carer carrying invisible pressure — fighting for support, managing appointments, advocating daily, and still trying to hold everything together. However, many parent carers experience exhaustion, anxiety, isolation, and burnout. Their mental health is important and we need to have more open discussions about how we can support them, our Portage practitioners will provide a listening ear and make time for ‘family focus’ throughout our sessions, ensuring parent carers feel validated.

According to research by Cerebra and Carers UK
* 84% of carers say they feel more stressed because of their caring role
* 78% report increased anxiety
* 55% say they’ve experienced depression
* Research also found that 41% of parents caring for disabled children have experienced suicidal thoughts.

Parents of children with additional needs are not failing — they are carrying extraordinary responsibilities, often without enough support. So this Mental Health Awareness Week, let’s remember:✨ Checking on carers matters✨ Asking for help is strength, not weakness✨ Support systems save lives✨ No parent should feel alone in this journey

10/05/2026

10/05/2026

They did it! 🎉

Our amazing Office Manager Emma and her partner took on the Great Birmingham Run and absolutely smashed it! 🏃‍♀️🏃‍♂️
Together they raised over £710 for NPA — an incredible achievement and a cause close to our hearts. 💙

The money raised will go back into supporting families who have children with additional needs by providing training and development opportunities for Portage Practitioners and registered Portage services all over the UK ensuring families can get the vital support they need.

We’re so proud of you both! Thank you so much 👏

The National Portage Association are a charity that relies on donations and fundraising events to be able to provide additional support to our members - so if you have some fundraising ideas for the NPA, then please do get in touch so we can continue to give back to our members!