The Learning Development Centre is a unique resource at the heart of Brockhurst and Marlston House Schools with ‘CReSTeD’ status. Children come to the LDC when they need some extra support alongside their class lessons. The scope of support offered by the LDC is very broad. It may range from longer term individual support to short courses on study skills, touch typing, or handwriting exercises and any pupil may benefit from an aspect of it at some point in their education.

The centre is very well resourced, with its own IT area and an extensive range of the latest engaging and stimulating multi-sensory software. Here the children are taught in small groups or individually, in our own purpose-built teaching space. Specialist teachers develop and deliver highly effective programmes which are specific to each child’s learning difficulty. Children enjoy coming to the LDC and respond enthusiastically to the warm, fun and encouraging environment.

We can carry out pupil assessments and are also in touch with a number of external professionals who are able to provide further support and advice, if needed. The team is led by a dedicated specialist with very extensive experience of teaching children who have specific learning difficulties. All our specialist teachers hold the Level 7 Diploma for teaching & assessing learners with SpLDs and our teaching assistants hold or are working towards Level 3 or Level 5 certificates for supporting learners with specific learning difficulties.