Redbridge Pre-school Home Visiting Service (PSHVS)

Working in partnership with parents to promote the development of pre school children with special needs. The PSHVS service is offered by London Borough of Redbridge Access and Inclusion.

What is Home Visiting?

The Pre School Home Visiting Service is primarily a home-based educational service for pre school children who have special needs. This includes delivery of early support for babies and very young children with complex needs. It is based on the principle that parents are the key figures in the care and development of their child.

How does Home Teaching Work?

Families are visited at regular, agreed time for about 1-2 hours usually on a weekly basis during term time.

The home visitor works in partnership with the parents or carers to build on abilities the child already has and teaching new skills the child has yet to master.  Small group sessions for parents and children known to the service are also offered if appropriate.

The Pre School Home Visiting Service offers carefully structured but flexible play based activities to promote learning and development. Parents are encouraged to be fully involved in all aspects of the home teaching process.  Much of the learning takes place through play and during the child’s daily routine. Teaching is tailored to meet the requirements of the individual child.  The emphasis is on the positive finding out, and building on, what a child can do.

Home visitors can provide a link between parents and other professionals. Where appropriate, home visitors work with children with complex needs using Early Support principles. Home Visiting is designed to deliver a family focussed, well co-ordinated service for children under five and their families.  The Home Visitor  provides each family with a single point of contact and enables families to have easy access to information, support and services to meet their needs.  Home Visitors are responsible for working together with the family and professionals to ensure the delivery of an co-ordinated plan for the child and family, bringing together education, social care, health services and voluntary sector.

The Home Visiting Service holds weekly group sessions for referred families, including a Splash Session at Newbridge School hydrotherapy pool, Multi Sensory Group, Drop In Group and a group for children with social communications difficulties offering parents the opportunity to meet and children to play within a group setting.

Transition to School

When parents are thinking about nursery, playgroup or school, the Home Visiting Service can provide information and support.

When a child enters other pre school provision, the involvement of the Home Visiting Service will be negotiated, agreed and reviewed regularly with parents or carers.