The North East Metropolitan Language Development Centre (NEMLDC) provides a full time, short term placement for children from Kindergarten to Year 1 who have a specific language impairment. The NEMLDC accepts students from the North Regional Education District, east of Wanneroo Road to Jane Brook, Swan View and Stratton and north as far as Gnangara, Ellenbrook and Upper Swan. The NEMLDC is located over four sites, on two of which we share facilities with our host primary schools. The NEMLDC currently has four Year 1, four Pre Primary and one Kindergarten class on the West Morley Primary School site, two Year 1 and two Pre Primary classes on the North Balga site and two stand alone Kindergartens - one at Tara Street near the West Morley site and one at Penrith Place near the North Balga site. The administration for the NEMLDC is located at the West Morley site, with administration staff visiting the off-sites on a regular basis. In 2011 our programs are catering for 212 students and approximately one third of these students are transported to the sites through the Public Transport Authority school bus service. Enrolment is through a referral process which requires a psychological and a speech and language assessment.

Over the years the NEMLDC has developed a highly professional interdisciplinary team where staff members, the school psychologist and the speech pathologists work collaboratively to provide effective early intervention for students with the common goal of returning them to mainstream education as effective communicators who are able to reach their full potential in all areas of learning. In terms of speech and language, many years of research and collaboration between the speech pathologists and LDC staff have resulted in the creation of specialised programs that, when used regularly within classes, have allowed us to meet the educational needs of our students. Students work in small groups where specific language skills including phonological processing, semantic organisation, syntax, oral narrative, comprehension and social skills are targeted daily. Group and individual goals are set and reviewed throughout the year and the programs are continually evaluated and updated each year to reflect the latest research and teaching practices. As well as a continuing focus on the development of language skills, students at the NEMLDC also receive instruction in maths, technology and science, health, society and environment, physical education and the arts, with a special whole school focus for 2011 centred on maths.

The NEMLDC is fortunate to share their premises on the West Morley site with the State Wide Speech and Language Service. This service supports schools within the North Regional Education District and the NEMLDC staff are able to access ongoing professional learning provided by the service.

Of utmost importance is maintaining communication between the school, families and the community. This is achieved through a number of different ways including newsletters, parent workshops, communication books, portfolios, reports, parent meetings and parent involvement in school activities. The NEMLDC is supported by an active P&C that meets each month and a School Council that meets each term.

Pat Grafton

Principal