Learning Development Centre (LDC) - Millfield Prep School

Learning Development Centre (LDC)

What provision is made for pupils with
additional learning needs?
The Learning Development Centre
The Learning Development Centre
(LDC) is currently staffed by seven
dyslexia specialists who work mainly
with children in small groups to
develop literacy skills. In addition
we have specialist teachers who can
provide 1:1 support and we have
access to a speech and language
therapist. Both of these services are
chargeable.
The LDC is a specialist department
within a mainstream school and
is an integral part of the school,
supporting staff in other curricular
areas to ensure that best practice
in respect of differentiation for
additional learning is embedded
in the school’s culture. We believe
the LDC is unique in its quality and
breadth of screening, assessment
and intervention programmes.
Tutors are not only dyslexia
specialists, but they also have
additional professional training and
expertise to enable them to identify
the underlying factors which are
preventing successful learning from
taking place.
Additional areas of expertise and
training include:
• Screening for visual difficulties
• Auditory processing assessments
• Neuro-developmental delay
assessment and intervention.
Ethos
Our ethos is that children, given
the will to succeed, can achieve
high standards. We recognise
that learning may be hard, even
unsettling at times; however, with
the right approach and teamwork,
success is attainable. A sense
of urgency to promote literacy
and learning is balanced by
opportunities to enable children to
restore a sense of balance in their
lives. Through discussion and the
development of reflective skills, they
can begin to feel more in control of
their learning and develop a positive
perception of learning differences.

Every concerned parent knows
only too well that childhood
is too precious a time to have
unproductive years at school. With
a sixty year tradition of believing
unequivocally in the value and
potential of our children, we can
instill them with the confidence to
dream big dreams and know they
are attainable.
Initial Interview
If there are indications or concerns
that a child may have additional
learning needs, a LDC tutor will be
involved in the interview process.
When meeting with the parents and
child, the tutor will explain how the
LDC operates and how this differs
from many other independent
schools. It is important at this
point to clarify that Millfield is not
selective on entry and can cater for
a range of abilities. It is not however
a suitable or appropriate placement
for pupils needing significant
support within their classroom or
with other aspects of the school’s
programmes.
At Millfield Preparatory School,
time for additional learning support
is built into the curriculum. This
means that pupils who need fulltime
support (typically 4-5 sessions
of 40 minute lessons), do not miss
other lessons when they are working
in the LDC. These pupils will also
often have an LDC tutor as their
group tutor and as their English
teacher.
The interview process includes
a number of assessments which
are tailored to the individual child
and the reports available. Parents
are consulted on any underlying
difficulties such as vision, auditory
processing, attitude to learning
and other relevant factors. If
appropriate, a detailed neurodevelopmental
delay assessment of
the child by the Director of the LDC
may be discussed with the parents.
This can establish whether there are
any underlying immaturities in the
child’s development which may be
preventing the child from making
the best of their abilities.
Signs of neuro-developmental delay
can include:
• Frustration
• Underperformance
• Academic difficulties
• Difficulties with fine and gross
motor skills
• Balance and coordination
difficulties
• Early childhood traumas

The child may be finding it difficult
to perform daily tasks to their
true level of potential, while to
all outward appearances there is
no sign of this. Currently a group
based developmental movement
programme operates before the
school day starts as part of this
approach.
When a pupil is accepted into
the school, their LDC tutor will
summarise information about
them which is then made available
electronically to all members of
staff. This provides guidance to
what the teacher / adult might
observe and recommendations for
specific strategies and support.
Curriculum
The LDC is well-resourced
to implement multi-sensory
programmes which train and
develop areas such as visual and
auditory perception, discrimination
and processing as well as memory,
thinking and reasoning skills.
Reading, writing and spelling
are taught with the benefit of
software as well as more traditional
resources. As children become more
skilled, they pursue programmes to
develop tactics in comprehension,
grammar and vocabulary.
Dependent on age and maturity,
children are expected to engage
actively in monitoring their progress
and in setting themselves realistic
targets in partnership with their
tutor. The development of self
awareness and reflective strategies

is an essential part of this approach.
Activities such as planning how
to approach a given learning task,
monitoring comprehension, and
evaluating progress toward the
completion of a task form part
of the pupil’s programme, where
necessary.
In Conclusion
Recognising the consequence
of failure which may have been
experienced in varying degrees
by those who attend the LDC, the
school accepts children based on
their potential for growth rather than
their current performance.
We aim to make a sizeable
contribution to the lives of those
children striving to overcome
learning differences and it is a
combination of rigor and empathy
which drives the LDC. Children
know that they are secure and
their difficulties are understood;
they also know that there are high
expectations of them.
We recognise that children who
attend the LDC contribute a great
deal in many ways to the diversity
of our school community and we are
proud when we are able to see them
flourish.

For further information please contact:
Director of the LDC: Mrs Mary Mountstephen MA (SEN)
Associate Member of The British Dyslexia Association
mem@millfieldprep.com
Glastonbury, Somerset BA6 8LD UK
Tel: +44 (0)1458 832446
Email: office@millfieldprep.com
www.millfieldprep.com