What are Language Development Centers?
Language Development Centers, often referred to as LDCs, are schools that specialize in enhancing a child’s expressive and receptive language. They offer the same classes and coursework across a range of learning areas, in line with the Australian curriculum standards but are also designed to provide additional support and intervention for children with Developmental Language Disorder. The school provides education through teachers and education assistants who are trained by Speech Pathologists. School Speech Pathologists and teachers work together to adapt the Australian curriculum to best facilitate language development and support student’s needs, along with providing foundations for academic development. LDCs are short term educational facilities, therefore children will often attend the school for a few years, however this varies between schools. Transition to mainstream schooling occurs after a number of assessments are completed to determine the child is presenting with age appropriate language skills, then the LDC will support the parents through this process.
Who is eligible?
To be deemed eligible to attend a LDC, a child must meet the following criteria:
- The child must have a significant primary language disorder in one or more language areas.
- The child needs to demonstrate evidence of learning potential within the average or above average range.
- The child needs to demonstrate sound adaptive behaviour skills, substantiated by observed descriptive evidence of the child’s behaviour in his/her current educational placement or in his/her home. This is to ensure that children are able to fully access an intensive oral language learning program.
Process of referral
Referral’s to a LDC require a developmental or psychological assessment by a school psychologist or Paediatrician, and a Speech Pathology assessment. A parent and teacher questionnaire is also completed at time of referral. Referrals to LDCs for the following year often close during September each year, therefore it is important to organise a referral prior to this date. At KidSpeak, we can complete a Speech Pathology assessment, which includes a summary of the child’s language development history, a comprehensive formal language assessment and language sample. Your Speech Pathologist may also include details on your child’s speech development, social skills and fluency. This assessment can take up to four sessions to complete all necessary assessments and will also require an admin fee charged. For further information on pricing for a referral, please contact our admin staff.
Different LDC’s and catchment areas
There are various Language Development centres in Perth, each with multiple campuses and set catchment areas. Below are each of the LDCs and locations. For further information on each catchment area, visit their website.
- North East Metropolitan Language Development Centre (https://northeastldc.wa.edu.au/) – West Morley Campus (main office), North Balga Campus, Beechboro Campus
- Fremantle Language Development Centre (https://fremantleldc.wa.edu.au/)- Willagee Campus (main office), Bull Creek Campus, Beeliar Campus
- West Coast Language Development Centre (https://westcoastldc.wa.edu.au/)- (Padbury Primary School (main office), East Hamersley Primary School, Poseidon Primary School, Quinns Beach Primary School
- South East Language Development Centre (https://southeastldc.wa.edu.au/) – Cloverdale Campus, Maddington Campus, Armadale Campus
- Peel Language Development School (https://www.plds.wa.edu.au/) – Mandurah Primary School, Pinjarra Primary School, Bungaree Primary School
If you think your child would benefit from referral to a language development centre, book an appointment or discuss with your child’s Speech Pathologist in their next session.
