Learning Difficulties - Professional Learning & Resources
Learning Difficulties Professional Learning & Resources
SPELD NSW has a great collection of professional learning & resources to support classroom teachers, interventionists and school leaders working to support students with literacy and numeracy difficulties.Â
Professional learning courses are designed to support classroom and intervention support for students with learning difficulties. They are available face-to-face, online, or on-demand and are suitable for classroom teachers and interventionists.Â
SPELD NSW also has a great collection of resources to support students with learning difficulties.Â
Access a wide range of Learning Difficulties Courses & Resources​
Learning Difficulties Professional Learning
Help me Read! Strategies for Struggling Readers
Learn about targeted strategies to add to your reading instruction tool box!
The Reading Intervention Course
The Reading Intervention Course is SPELD NSW’s specialist course for educators and allied health professionals looking to offer small group and one-on-one tier 3 intervention in reading.
Maths with Judy Hornigold
This series of courses from maths expert Judy Hornigold addresses fundamental maths skills and mathematical learning and learning difficulties. Great professional learning for early years teachers, interventionists, and school leaders.
Understanding and Responding to Reading Difficulties, including Dyslexia
An introduction to why some people struggle with reading and what we can do to support them in our classrooms and schools.
Understanding and Responding to Writing Difficulties, including Dysgraphia
An introduction to why some people struggle with writing and what we can do to support them in our classrooms.
DSF Learning Difficulties Courses
SPELD NSW is happy to partner with DSF to deliver these engaging and informative webinars about identifying and supporting students with learning difficulties.
Resources to Support Students with Learning Difficulties
Phonics and Morphology Scope and Sequence
The SPELD NSW Phonics and Morphology Scope and Sequence for Reading and Spelling. These documents are freely available for schools, teachers and interventionists to use to support their reading and spelling instruction.
Catch-up Decodable Readers for Intervention
Sounds-Write is an evidence-based highly structured, synthetic, linguistic phonics program utilising an exciting and highly successful approach to the teaching of reading and spelling.
SPELD NSW Member Phonic & Morphology Resources
These Phonics and Morphology Resources have been developed by SPELD NSW for teachers, interventionists, and parents to support students’ reading and spelling instruction and learning.
Blending and Reading Strategies Bookmarks
These free downloadable bookmarks provide strategies for blending, word reading, and word attack for educators and parents supporting beginning and more advanced readers.
Decodable Book Selectors
The organisation of decodable readers in the SPELD NSW Decodable Book Selectors provides guidance about the selection and organisation of the readers from a range of high-quality series of decodable books.
Maths Activities and Games
SPELD NSW Bookshop has a great range of high-quality maths games and activities.
Upcoming & Available Learning Difficulties Courses
Make the most of York Assessment of Reading for Comprehension (YARC) On Demand Webinar
WHEN: Time and date to be confirmed
30 November -0001
Gain greater confidence and competence in administering YARC, interpreting results and intervention planning with these on-demand webinars.
Reading Intervention Course – Applications Now Open for 2026!
WHEN: Time and date to be confirmed
30 November -0001
The Reading Intervention Course is SPELD NSW’s specialist course for educators and allied health professionals looking to offer small group and one-on-one tier 3 intervention in reading. This specialist course has new resources, new content and modules to help build your expertise to deliver evidence-based reading intervention for struggling readers.
Introduction to Dyscalculia – Maths with Judy Hornigold
WHEN: Time and date to be confirmed
24 June 2024
This short course will explain the nature of dyscalculia and how it differs from more general maths learning difficulties. Indicators of dyscalculia will be detailed together with a review of current screening tools for dyscalculia. The course will also explore a range of strategies to support children with dyscalculia.
Maths and Dyslexia – Maths with Judy Hornigold
WHEN: Time and date to be confirmed
25 June 2024
This course will explain how dyslexia can impact on maths attainment and how the strengths of the dyslexic learner can be harnessed to support maths attainment. We will look at the role of working memory and processing speed in maths as well as the impact of reading issues when working with word problems.
Help me Read! Strategies for Struggling Readers – On-Demand Individual Learning Course
WHEN: Time and date to be confirmed
26 August 2024
In this on-demand 8 module course you will learn about a range of evidence-based strategies to support struggling readers. On-demand professional learning designed for individual primary school teachers and educators providing learning support and intervention for primary school and high school students who are experiencing reading difficulties.
Understanding Blending for Word Reading – Individual Learning
WHEN: 3:30pm - 4:30pm,
23 October 2025
In this webinar, we will discuss blending strategies for single-syllable words and give you some tips to use in the classroom and intervention settings. Join us for some practical solutions to support strong word-reading skills!
Assistive Technology for Reading and Writing – Individual Learning
WHEN: 3:30pm - 4:30pm,
30 October 2025
In this webinar, we will discuss the important role of Assistive Technology and explore the important features of a range of AT tools. We will give you some key points to consider when selecting and implementing AT tools for your classroom and at home.
Assessing and Diagnosing Specific Learning Disorders – Online
WHEN: 11:00am - 2:00pm, 4 sessions starting,
12 May 2026
This online workshop is suitable for Psychologists with an interest in learning more about the assessment and diagnosis of learning disorders in the key areas of reading, written expression and mathematics.
Dyscalculia & SLD with Impairment in Mathematics: Defining Features and Effective Strategies – Parramatta
WHEN: 9:00am - 3:30pm,
20 May 2026
This 1-day face-to-face workshop will provide participants with an understanding of the defining features of specific maths disorders and will focus on the functional impact of dyscalculia, demonstrating effective strategies for use both in and out of the classroom.
Intervention for Maths Difficulties: High Impact Strategies, Assessment and Program Options – Parramatta
WHEN: 9:00 am - 3:30pm, 2 days starting,
21 May 2026
This 2-day face-to-face workshop has been specifically designed for teachers and tutors who are keen to improve their knowledge and skills in providing effective numeracy intervention for children with maths related difficulties and disorders.