The Statewide Speech and Language Service is provided by five Language Development Centres (LDCs) located in the metropolitan area. These facilities are Department of Education schools that provide an early intervention school service and a statewide outreach service for students with speech and language difficulties.
Contact details
Fremantle Language Development Centre | T: (08) 9331 8602 |
North East Metropolitan Language Development Centre | T: (08) 9275 5511 |
Peel Language Development School | T: (08) 9593 9030 |
South East Metropolitan Language Development Centre | T: (08) 9277 3200 |
West Coast Language Development Centre | T: (08) 9401 5433 |
The Language Development Centres (LDCs) provide intensive support for students whose academic and social performance is seriously limited by disordered speech and language development. Most LDCs are co-located with a mainstream school and provide satellite/offsite classes in other primary school sites in nearby areas. The co-location ensures that language development students benefit from interaction and inclusion with partner schools.
The schools are an early intervention educational facility. Depending on the facility, this can be from Kindergarten up to Year 3. Small class sizes, specialised language and academic intervention is provided to students on an individual, small group and whole-class basis with a focus on oral language development. Each LDC is staffed by highly-skilled teachers and by speech pathologists, who work with teachers and parents in assessing, evaluating and implementing appropriate programs for students.
It is the aim to return children to mainstream classrooms when they demonstrate age appropriate speech, language, social skills and also the ability to participate academically. Upon exit, a fully supported transition program to a mainstream public school is implemented and coordinated by the LDC and the local school to ensure a successful transition.
The Statewide Speech and Language Outreach Service supports schools with strategic initiatives and professional learning to enable them to cater more effectively for students with speech and language difficulties. Outreach services are staffed by Speech and Language Support Officers who are either specialist teachers or speech pathologists.
The Statewide Speech and Language Outreach Service provides: