Portage Group

✨ Discover the Magic of Mixmups – With Over 4,000 Ways to Watch! ✨

Looking for a wonderful, gentle new TV show for your little ones? We highly recommend checking out Mixmups on Channel 5’s Milkshake! 📺

Created by Rebecca Atkinson (founder of the Toy Like Me campaign), Mixmups is a beautiful, stop-motion animation series that celebrates the joy of play, imagination, and friendship.

Why our Portage families will love it:

Mix Up Your Own Access: Through the incredible Mixmups Ultra Access service, there are literally over 4,000 ways to watch! Families can completely customise the viewing experience to match their child's exact needs. You can turn down background sounds, simplify the visuals, select British Sign Language (BSL) or Makaton signs, get emotional regulation support, or pull up sensory play-along prop lists.

Neurodivergent Representation: The show is wonderfully inclusive of neurodiversity. For example, Spin the rabbit represents children living with anxiety. He is high-energy, boisterous, and physical, showing how varying emotional and sensory needs are a natural part of any friend group!

Positive Problem-Solving: The show’s wonderful motto is "there is always another way!"—teaching children resilience, teamwork, and creative thinking.

Easy to Follow: The animation uses bright, high-contrast colours and low-clutter backgrounds, making it accessible for children with visual impairments.

Meet Pockets, Giggle, and Spin as they mix up the magic of playtime! 🐻🐱🐰

👉 You can catch it on Channel 5's Milkshake! or try the groundbreaking interactive Mixmups Ultra Access Episodes directly on the Channel 5 website.

Please remember there is no group at Queensway today, as the team will be at the West Marsh Family hub day from 10am till 2pm ☺️
We will be back at Queensway 18th August for 10:30-11:30am

Our very own Princess Anna 💙
Remember it's a hot one today so wear your suncream and hats 🌞

Portage and Early years are ready for the East Marsh Family Hub day.
Fun, free event for all our families. 💙

🩵 Get yourselves down the Horizon Youth Zone on Fridays 9:30-2:30pm. It's a wonderful place for our 0-5 children and their families 💙

Friday 17th July at Babyzone Global Horizon Youth Zone We will be there for any Childcare or Funding Questions and things to do during the Summer Holidays

💙 Free training available 🩵

UPDATE: This session is now fully booked, but we currently have lots of availability for the morning session at 10.30: https://www.autismcentral.nhs.uk/events/understanding-autism-neurodiversity-informed-perspective-mornings

However, as we completely appreciate that time may not be convenient for you, this webinar series will be recorded. You will be able catch-up by registering on Autism Central's website.

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Is your family new to autism? Or are you looking for info after receiving a diagnosis for a family member?

We’re hosting a masterclass series with Dr Ruth Moyse, an accessible, evidence-based introduction to autism, grounded in lived experience.

🫂 For families and anyone who loves or works with an autistic person
📆 Free to join and fully NHS funded (booking essential)

Across five Monday afternoons, you’ll explore:

· What Is autism: beyond stereotypes and pathologising language

· Neurodiversity: autism as difference, disability, identity, and lived experience

· Identity and strengths: supporting wellbeing and self-understanding

· Supporting differences: communication, sensory processing and emotion regulation

· Autism across the lifespan: childhood to adulthood, including late diagnosis

Reserve your place: https://orlo.uk/0NebD

This series is hosted by Anna Freud as part of the Autism Central programme, funded by NHS England Workforce, Training and Education

💙 Happy Father's day to all our amazing fathers 💙

💙 Happy Father’s Day 💙

Celebrating all the fathers and male role models who make a difference in the lives of SEND children and families every day.

At the National Portage Association, we recognise and appreciate the important role that fathers and male-caring figures play in supporting children’s development, celebrating every milestone and every success along the way.

Whether you’re a dad, stepdad, grandad, uncle, foster carer, brother, mentor, or friend, your love, encouragement, patience, and belief help children grow in confidence and reach their potential.

Wishing you all a wonderful Father’s Day. 💙

🌟Learning Disability Week - 15-21 June 2026 🌟

This year’s theme, “Do You See Me?”, is a powerful reminder that everyone deserves to be seen, heard, valued, and included.

At the National Portage Association, we are proud to support young children with additional needs and disabilities, along with their families, helping them to develop confidence, communication, independence, and a love of learning through play. Every day, we see the incredible strengths, achievements, and potential of the children and families that receive Portage, Learning Disability Week is an opportunity to celebrate their unique journeys and together we can ensure that children with learning disabilities are recognised for who they are, what they can achieve, and the valuable contributions they make to our communities.💙

🌟Learning Disability Week - 15-21 June 2026 🌟

This year’s theme, “Do You See Me?”, is a powerful reminder that everyone deserves to be seen, heard, valued, and included.

At the National Portage Association, we are proud to support young children with additional needs and disabilities, along with their families, helping them to develop confidence, communication, independence, and a love of learning through play. Every day, we see the incredible strengths, achievements, and potential of the children and families that receive Portage. Learning Disability Week is an opportunity to celebrate their unique journeys and together we can ensure that children with learning disabilities are recognised for who they are, what they can achieve, and the valuable contributions they make to our communities.💙

BITESIZE GUIDE TO STIMMING

When people hear the word stimming, they often assume it is something that should be stopped.

But what if it is actually helping?

Stimming is a form of self-regulation. It can help a child manage anxiety, process sensory information, release overwhelming energy, improve focus, or feel safe in an environment that feels too much. While it is often associated with autistic children and young people, the truth is that all humans stim in some way. We tap our feet, twirl our hair, click pens, doodle, pace, or hum.

The difference is that some forms of stimming are more noticeable than others.

Too often, adults focus on the behaviour itself rather than the reason behind it. When a child is rocking, flapping, pacing, repeating words, or seeking sensory input, they are often communicating a need rather than creating a problem.

Before asking a child to stop, it can be helpful to ask:

“What is this helping them with?”

Understanding the purpose of stimming can transform the way we respond. When safe stims are accepted and supported, children often feel calmer, safer, and better able to engage with the world around them.

If you’d like our new Bitesize Guide to Stimming, see instructions in the visual. FOLLOW for more posts on stimming throughout the day.