diff --git a/src/ophyd_async/tango/base_devices/_tango_readable.py b/src/ophyd_async/tango/base_devices/_tango_readable.py
index 08b52f3a1b..94e85d96a3 100644
--- a/src/ophyd_async/tango/base_devices/_tango_readable.py
+++ b/src/ophyd_async/tango/base_devices/_tango_readable.py
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 from __future__ import annotations
 
-from typing import Optional, Tuple, Union
+from typing import Optional, Union
 
 from ophyd_async.core import (
     StandardReadable,
@@ -24,8 +24,6 @@ class TangoReadable(TangoDevice, StandardReadable):
                     device is connected.
     """
 
-    _polling: Tuple = (False, 0.1, None, 0.1)
-
     def __init__(
         self,
         trl: Optional[str] = None,
diff --git a/src/ophyd_async/tango/demo/_counter.py b/src/ophyd_async/tango/demo/_counter.py
index b6d7b9efa4..6280358a47 100644
--- a/src/ophyd_async/tango/demo/_counter.py
+++ b/src/ophyd_async/tango/demo/_counter.py
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@
     Signal,
     SignalX,
 )
-from ophyd_async.tango import TangoReadable
+from ophyd_async.tango import TangoReadable, tango_polling
 
 
 @dataclass
@@ -17,6 +17,9 @@ class TangoCounterConfig:
     sample_time: Optional[float] = None
 
 
+# Enable device level polling, useful for servers that do not support events
+# Polling for individual signal can be enabled with a dict
+@tango_polling((0.1, 0.1, 0.1), {"counts": (1.0, 0.1, 0.1)})
 class TangoCounter(TangoReadable):
     # Enter the name and type of the signals you want to use
     # If type is None or Signal, the type will be inferred from the Tango device
diff --git a/src/ophyd_async/tango/demo/_mover.py b/src/ophyd_async/tango/demo/_mover.py
index c7d1c6f0df..847f268ed3 100644
--- a/src/ophyd_async/tango/demo/_mover.py
+++ b/src/ophyd_async/tango/demo/_mover.py
@@ -27,7 +27,8 @@ class TangoMoverConfig:
     velocity: Optional[float] = None
 
 
-@tango_polling(0.1, 0.1, 0.1)
+# Enable device level polling, useful for servers that do not support events
+@tango_polling((0.1, 0.1, 0.1))
 class TangoMover(TangoReadable, Movable, Stoppable):
     # Enter the name and type of the signals you want to use
     # If type is None or Signal, the type will be inferred from the Tango device
diff --git a/src/ophyd_async/tango/signal/_tango_transport.py b/src/ophyd_async/tango/signal/_tango_transport.py
index dd1126f610..8d7742b5c8 100644
--- a/src/ophyd_async/tango/signal/_tango_transport.py
+++ b/src/ophyd_async/tango/signal/_tango_transport.py
@@ -593,7 +593,7 @@ def __init__(
         }
         self.trl_configs: Dict[str, AttributeInfoEx] = {}
         self.descriptor: Descriptor = {}  # type: ignore
-        self.polling = (False, 0.1, None, 0.1)
+        self._polling = (False, 0.1, None, 0.1)
         self.support_events = True
         self.status = None
 
@@ -619,7 +619,7 @@ async def connect(self, timeout: float = DEFAULT_TIMEOUT):
         else:
             # The same, so only need to connect one
             await self._connect_and_store_config(self.read_trl)
-        self.proxies[self.read_trl].set_polling(*self.polling)
+        self.proxies[self.read_trl].set_polling(*self._polling)
         self.descriptor = get_trl_descriptor(
             self.datatype, self.read_trl, self.trl_configs
         )
@@ -642,7 +642,7 @@ async def get_setpoint(self) -> T:
         return await self.proxies[self.write_trl].get_w_value()
 
     def set_callback(self, callback: Optional[ReadingValueCallback]) -> None:
-        if self.support_events is False and self.polling[0] is False:
+        if self.support_events is False and self._polling[0] is False:
             raise RuntimeError(
                 f"Cannot set event for {self.read_trl}. "
                 "Cannot set a callback on an attribute that does not support events and"
@@ -668,7 +668,7 @@ def set_polling(
         abs_change=None,
         rel_change=0.1,
     ):
-        self.polling = (allow_polling, polling_period, abs_change, rel_change)
+        self._polling = (allow_polling, polling_period, abs_change, rel_change)
 
     def allow_events(self, allow: Optional[bool] = True):
         self.support_events = allow