In 2026 we are delighted to be celebrating our 50th year of supporting students and their families. The founders of HWDA back in 1976 were instrumental in bringing about change to the education system and SEND provision. In this edition, Katrina Kear-Wood outlines the key changes in attitudes, legislation and approaches to dyslexia over the past 50 years. Throughout this year we will be hosting celebratory Golden Anniversary events and activities, the first of which – a Family Quiz Night at Hereford Workshop – was great fun.

Please get in touch with us if you would like to share any of your memories of HWDA.

Previous Newsletters:

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The Dyscalculia Network are holding many events over the week including this webinar for parents. There is a small cost – tickets can be bought via the link below:

Understanding Maths Learning Difficulties: Supporting Secondary Learners Tickets, Wednesday, Mar 4 from 7 pm to 8 pm GMT | Eventbrite

Further information about the Dyscalculia Network can be found here:

Dyscalculia Network | Leading Support Network for Dyscalculia

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People with dyscalculia may struggle with number sense, arithmetic, understanding patterns, dealing with money and telling the time.

Get ready to join our campaign by writing to your MP using our template letters, raising funds for us and learn more by joining our excellent educator conference and webinars for parents, adults with dyscalculia and employers.

This day is part of a broader effort to improve access to learning and support for people with various learning differences. This is an opportunity to support our dyscalculia community and make a difference to millions of adults and children with this underdiagnosed and underrepresented learning difficulty.

For information about Dyscalculia Network 2026 courses and seminars follow the link below:

https://dyscalculianetwork.com/dyscalculia-day-2026/

In 2025, the BDA put together lots of free resources and information to support young learners with dyscalculia or who generally find maths tricky: these are still available on their website:

https://www.bdadyslexia.org.uk/news/dyscalculia-day-3rd-march

https://www.bdadyslexia.org.uk/dyscalculia

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https://www.worcestershire.gov.uk/news/sendiass-launches-new-community-initiative-connect-wychavon

SENDIASS, the county’s Special Educational Needs and Disabilities Information, Advice and Support Service, is launching a new community programme designed to make SEND support easier to reach for local families.

SENDIASS is an impartial service delivered jointly on behalf of Worcestershire County Council and Herefordshire Council, providing free, confidential information, advice and support to families of children and young people aged 0–25 with special educational needs or disabilities (SEND). 

Although funded by both councils, the service operates independently to ensure families receive neutral and trustworthy guidance.

The new initiative, SENDIASS Connects, will see the service visiting communities across the region to bring SEND advice, guidance and training directly into local venues, helping families discover the breadth of support available where they live.

The first area to receive SENDIASS Connects is Wychavon, with activity taking place from January to March 2026. Developed in partnership with Wychavon District Council, the programme responds to the needs of parent carers who may have limited access to SEND information or find it difficult to travel to central locations.

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https://www.ipsea.org.uk/online-learning-for-parents-and-carers?fbclid=iwdgrzaapmcexjbgnra8xx22v4dg4dywvtajexahnydgmgyxbwx2lkddm1mdy4ntuzmtcyoaabhj4qpw059f3jvgq9nebcbpou8054zju4d9nps1a7fwzxc23gckh_l1qudnwy_aem_3av6yfajvfkycavdhp5jza&sfnsn=scwspwa

All of our e-learning is based on the law as it applies in England. 

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There will be a Golden theme for our tree this year which links to HWDA’s upcoming 50th Anniversary. If you would like to make or donate a decoration for the tree, please get it to Bev Drinkwater, Senior Tutor Hereford. For further information please contact her at: seniortutorhereford@hwda.org.uk

We hope you will enjoy visiting the festival to see the brilliant decorations made by our students.

Thea made these beautiful decorations at home. Her felt Christmas mice, Rosie and Daisy, each have the most exquisite detail!

The students have been busy crafting their baubles and decorations. The precision work provides a good opportunity to put into practice spatial and design skills as well as developing fine motor skills.

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There are lots of free events and activities throughout November at various schools and locations in Worcestershire so why not pop along and see what WPCF is all about! Below are details of what’s happening in November as set out on their Facebook Page, which you can follow here: (1) Facebook

This week marks the start of our SEND parent carers’ events, which WPCF are hosting in primary, first and middle schools across Worcestershire. In total 31 Worcestershire schools are involved in the Partnerships for Inclusion of Neurodiversity in Schools programme. PINS aims to shape and improve whole school SEND provision, with a particular focus on neurodivergent pupils – diagnosed or otherwise. WPCF’s role is to amplify the voice of parent carers and support schools in developing their parental engagement. If you are a parent or carer to a pupil at a school involved in Worcestershire’s PINS, we’re looking forward to welcoming you to one of this week’s events. Join us at:

Whittington C of E Primary School Kid’s slime making 18/11/2025, 3.30pm

Leigh and Bransford Primary School Coffee, Cake & Conversation 19/11/2025,

Abbeywood First School A Guide to PINS 19/11/2025, 2pm

LEFS Bromsgrove Anxiety, Mental Health & SEND 19/11/2025, 8.45am

Nunnery Wood Primary School Coffee, Cake & Conversation 20/11/2025, 9am

Woodfield Academy Anxiety, Mental Health & SEND 20/11/2025, 9am

Beaconside Primary School Anxiety, Mental Health & SEND 21/11/2025, 1.30pm

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Welcome to Empowering Dyslexic Thinking in Schools

In this course you can learn how to empower Dyslexic Thinking in schools – and at home – and why it’s vital in our AI-powered world. 

You’ll learn what Dyslexic Thinking is, find out what the 7 Dyslexic Thinking skills are in kids, and learn how to spot what kind of Dyslexic Thinking archetype each dyslexic child is. 

This course is led by Kate Griggs, Dyslexic Thinking expert and founder of global charity, Made By Dyslexia, and throughout the course you’ll hear from Josh Clark, Chair of the International Dyslexia Association and Head of Landmark School.

If you complete all the elements of this course’s learning and successfully pass the knowledge check, you will be awarded a digital badge which you can add to your LinkedIn profile as well as sharing it on other social media accounts.

For more information and to enrol click here: https://www.open.edu/openlearncreate/course/view.php?id=15345

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These free webinars will run throughout January and February 2026 and will include a day time and evening session for each.

• Wednesday 21st January 2026 6:30pm -8:30pm Online via Teams
• Thursday 22nd January 2025 10:00am – 12:00pm Online via Teams

Find out more and book your place here: https://tinyurl.com/5cstwrdc

https://www.worcestershire.gov.uk/sendiass/sendiass-training-and-events/partnership-inclusion-neurodiversity-schools-pins

New online SEND training for schools

As part of the Partnership for Inclusion of Neurodiversity in Schools (PINS) project we were responsible for delivering training to the schools involved in the programme. This training focussed on effective communication with parent carers. We are now making this training available online to all schools in Worcestershire. Spring term dates and booking details for these sessions can be found on our Engaging with Parent Carers in Schools (Worcestershire) | SENDIASS Training webpage. If you know of a school that might be interested, please let them know.

FREE SEND Workshops and Webinars

We have published new workshop dates for the spring term. These include online and face-to-face sessions held during the day and in the evening. All sessions are interactive so bring your questions.

Please spread the word to parent carers and professionals/practitioners that you think might benefit from our training sessions. Our training posters are attached to this email. Please forward them to anyone you think might be interested. Contact sendiass@worcestershire.gov.uk  if you would like some hard copies.

Workshops currently available for Parent Carers:

Autism and Me (developed by autistic young people)- HW SENDIASS

What does a good Education Health & Care Plan (EHCP) look like? – HW SENDIASS

How to check a draft Education Health and Care Plan (EHCP)-HW SENDIASS ONLINE WORKSHOP

What you need to know if your child has an additional need/ disability- HW SENDIASS ONLINE WORKSHOP

Supporting Young People with SEND: Preparing for Adulthood- HW SENDIASS

Supporting your child to cope with change (Transitions) | HW SENDIASS

Understanding Dyslexia | HW SENDIASS

Workshops currently available for Professionals:

Autism & Me (Developed by Autistic Young People) Workshop for Professionals- HW SENDIASS

Special Educational Needs (SEN) Support and The Graduated Response in Schools Workshop for Professionals- HW SENDIASS

What Does a Good Education Health and Care Plan (EHCP) look like? Workshop for Professionals- HW SENDIASS

Engaging with Parent Carers in Schools (Worcestershire) | HW SENDIASS Training

SENDIASS Training at your venue

Do you attend a parent/carer support group? Does your setting run a SEND coffee morning? We can deliver any of our SEND workshops at your venue for FREE.

If you would like us to deliver one of our workshops at your setting, please complete our SENDIASS Training Request Form.

Please spread the word to any organisation you know that might be interested. Our training posters are attached to this email.

Find out more on our SENDIASS Training delivered at your venue webpage.

Contact SENDIASS:

For free, impartial information, advice and support on matters relating to children and young people who have or may have SEND, contact SENDIASS Monday-Friday 8.30am-4pm:

Herefordshire: 01432 260955 or email sendiass@herefordshire.gov.uk

Worcestershire: 01905 768153 or email sendiass@worcestershire.gov.uk  

SENDIASS Contact page

For useful SEND information and resources take a look at our website www.hwsendiass.co.uk

For regular SEND updates, follow us on Facebook-HWSENDIASS

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