View our latest School Holiday group therapy program schedule for December and January

X
logo
Make a referral Find a clinic Contact Search
icon

Education, Language and Literacy Clinic (ELLC)

Has your child been experiencing ongoing difficulties with one or more of the following?

  • Reading (sounding out words, reading with expression, reading fluently and accurately)
  • Reading Comprehension (understanding and/or remembering what they have read)
  • Writing (coming up with ideas, planning, structure, grammar)
  • Written Expression (writing a piece that is interesting, that makes sense, that has enough information and is on topic)
  • Spelling
  • Maths calculations (addition, subtraction, multiplication, division)
  • Mathematical reasoning (problem solving, understanding money, time, reading graphs etc.)
  • Struggling with learning in general?
Enquire now
1300 372 439

Depending on your child’s age and situation, they may present with a range of different signs/symptoms.

Teachers may also have expressed concern about your child’s literacy and learning progress. The school may be trying various accommodations and strategies but perhaps these are not making enough difference. Your child could be feeling anxious about his/her own academic ability compared to peers and there could be a risk that your child will disengage from learning.

Perhaps you have previously obtained an assessment for your child and/or have tried targeted intervention, but the difficulties continue. Alternatively, perhaps your child has not yet had an assessment or tried intervention, and maybe you are unsure where to start.

If your child presents with one or more of the difficulties listed above on an ongoing basis, then they could benefit from an ELLC assessment.

To find out more about early intervention programs or services available near you, contact us today.

Enquire now
1300 372 439
Untitled design 3

What is ELLC?

Early Start Australia | Vic | Box Hill offers a family-centred and multidisciplinary team approach to education, language and literacy assessment, intervention and case-management through the ELLC.

In the first instance, parents meet with ELLC Manager Liselle Grant  (Senior Speech Pathologist and Primary/Secondary Teacher) and Moya Matthews (Psychologist) in order to obtain information about your concerns..

Your child will then undertake Speech Pathology language and literacy assessments as well as Psychology cognitive and educational assessments. Assessment will also include liaison with your child’s teachers.

Depending on whether your child has already received targeted intervention for their specific literacy or learning difficulties or not, will govern which assessment approach the ELLC will take

If your child has not received a targeted intervention to date, then the assessment will consist of a:

  • Parent interview
  • Teacher liaison
  • Psychology Cognitive Assessment identify/rule-out cognitive difficulties
  • Speech Pathology Language and Literacy Assessment
  • Feedback session
  • Teacher feedback
  • Six months of targeted intervention.

The initial assessment and preliminary report writing process will take approximately 5 weeks. Your child will then be required to undertake six months of a targeted, evidence-based intervention. Early Start Australia | Vic | Box Hill is one of the centres that can provide this intervention.

At the end of the six months, your child will complete:

  • Psychology Education Assessment (i.e. different to the Cognitive Assessment)
  • Speech Pathology Assessment (i.e. targeted literacy sub-tests).

Assessment results will be provided as an Appendix to the preliminary report. A diagnosis may potentially be provided and/or further recommendations are made.

If your child has already received a targeted intervention for six-months, then the assessment will consist of a:

  • Parent interview
  • Teacher liaison
  • Psychology Cognitive Assessment identify/rule-out cognitive difficulties
  • Psychology Education Assessment (i.e. different to the Cognitive Assessment)
  • Speech Pathology Language Assessment
  • Feedback session
  • Teacher feedback.

The assessments and the comprehensive written report will take approximately 6 weeks. A diagnosis may potentially be provided and/or further recommendations will be made.

These approaches are in-line with the mandated requirements under the

Health professionals in Australia, America and many countries in Europe must refer to the mandated criteria set out in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-V) handbook when diagnosing Specific Learning Disorder (SLD) as well as a range of other disorders. For a clinical diagnosis of SLD to be determined, a health professional must be convinced the assessment evidence satisfies the four SLD criteria required by the DSM-V.

A comprehensive, synthesised Speech Pathology/Psychology Assessment Report will be produced including recommendations. Feedback sessions are provided to both parents and teachers.

To streamline your experience, Liselle and Lisa will continue to case-manage your child’s progress throughout the time your child undertakes assessment and intervention at Early Start Australia | Vic | Box Hill (periodically reviewing your child’s progress).

Find a clinic near you

We have clinics in every state and territory providing assessments, early childhood intervention therapies, and support to help you thrive.

Find a clinic

ELLC Assessment benefits

Having your child assessed through the ELLC can not only provide you, your child’s educators and other health providers with a deeper understanding of the specific education, language and literacy issues that are occurring, but will also enable your child to receive targeted, evidence-based intervention to address their specific difficulties.

Gain insight and anxiety relief

  • Assessment enables your child to adjust perspective and increase positivity
  • Helps to ease feelings of anxiety and disengagement with school, as well as give them achievable goals to work towards. 

Potential diagnosis

  • Assessment may either form part of an ongoing diagnostic process, or potentially result in a Specific Learning Disorder (SLD) to be diagnosed.
  • For an SLD to be diagnosed, a child’s difficulties cannot be attributed to cognitive ability or other factors (such as hearing, vision, emotional, environmental, social factors impacting on their opportunity to learn). 

Enhance advocacy

  • Equips you with facts and knowledge about your child’s specific education, language and literacy difficulties
  • You can effectively advocate for school and community participation support.
  • This support may take the form of teachers incorporating some strategies/accommodations for your child in the learning environments (such as the classroom), obtaining “Special Consideration” for assessments, and/or potentially securing some funding (if eligible and attending an Independent School).
Enquire now
1300 372 439

The ESA difference

esa difference

Our dedicated teams of Occupational Therapists, Psychologists, Speech Pathologists and Physiotherapists work with our clients to help them meet their growth and development goals.

We focus on supporting clients (and their families) to develop language, motor, cognitive, social and emotional skills, and provide therapy supports for children with developmental delay or disability, including autism spectrum disorder.

Enquire now
1300 372 439

Why choose Early Start Australia

c 1

Multi-disciplinary team

Our multi-disciplinary teams work together with you to understand your needs and develop a plan using evidence-based strategies to help you achieve your goals and aspirations.

c 2

Australian wide network of centres

We have clinics in every state and territory creating a strong community of allied health professionals with the collective knowledge and expertise to deliver you the best outcomes.

c 3

Registered NDIS provider

We are a registered NDIS provider and are here to help you on your NDIS journey.

c 4

Early intervention for all ages

Early intervention is not just for the kids. We offer therapies to cater for all ages, needs and abilities,
and we know the sooner you start your therapy journey the better.

Subscribe to our newsletter

Find a clinic