Supporting Your Child’s Journey to the Right School
classroom settings, they may benefit from attending a specialised school designed to meet their needs. Language Development Centres (LDCs) in Western Australia are government-funded programs that provide intensive support for children with Developmental Language Disorder (DLD). These centres offer smaller class sizes, language-focused learning, and access to allied health services.
At Look Who’s Talking SLP, we specialise in guiding families through the language development centre application process. From formal assessment and report writing to working with your child’s educators, we provide complete support. Our goal is to ensure eligible children receive the opportunity to learn and thrive in an environment that understands their communication needs.
Whether you’re preparing to apply to a Language Development Centre in WA, need help understanding eligibility, or require a speech pathology report for a language development centre, we’re here to help make the process straightforward and stress-free.
Signs Your Child May Be Eligible for an LDC
Your child may benefit from an LDC placement if they:
- Have significant difficulty understanding spoken instructions and vocabulary
- Have significant difficulty using age-appropriate grammar and sentence structure
- Score well below age expectations in a formal language assessment
- Have a confirmed or suspected diagnosis of Developmental Language Disorder (DLD)
- Are in Pre-Kindy, Kindergarten or Pre-Primary and are not making progress with standard interventions
- Show learning difficulties despite having age-appropriate hearing, vision, and non-verbal IQ
- Need additional language-focused support not available in mainstream classrooms
These signs indicate the child may be a good candidate for a language development centre referral, where targeted intervention can support better learning outcomes.
How We Help with the Application Process
FAQs – Language Development Centre Applications
LDCs are specialised government schools in Western Australia for children with significant language difficulties, including DLD. These centres offer smaller class sizes and tailored educational and therapy support.
Applications can be submitted when children are in Pre-Kindy, Kindergarten, or Pre-Primary. They typically close in Term 3 of the year before your child would start at the language development centre.
No formal diagnosis is required. However, your child must show significant language difficulties through standardised assessment supported by a speech pathologist.
Yes! Our speech pathologists will assess your child and provide clear advice about eligibility and next steps for the language development centre referral.
If your child isn’t eligible or isn’t accepted into an LDC, we can provide ongoing language support through regular therapy sessions and guide you in exploring alternative options, including NDIS funding and services.
Absolutely. We guide you through the ‘how to apply for a language development school’ process and work closely with educators to ensure nothing is missed.