National Handwriting Association
Charity promoting good practice in handwriting
"At first children should not be taught to join letters or to start every letter 'on the line' with a 'lead-in', because these practices cause unnecessary difficulty for beginners." DfE, October 2021 Presented by Sue Smits, Specialist Handwriting Consultant and Advisor, this webinar aims to expose the truth about the entry/lead-in stroke. It will address […]
We’re delighted to announce that this year’s NHA Members’ Day and AGM will be held on Friday 8 July. The event will once again take place via Zoom, providing easy access to everyone, no matter where they live. The timetable for the day is as follows: 10.00am Introduction by NHA Chair, Dr Mellissa Prunty 10.15am […]
Online Zoom webinar Why do people think left-handers always have messy writing? Why do people think teaching left-handers is difficult? How is the left-hander's body involved in handwriting, including pencil grip and posture? How can the writing implement and paper position affect writing fluency and efficiency? What alternative letter forms should be considered to help the left-hander establish greater […]
NHA is delighted to present our next Twilight in conjunction with Megan Baker House. Megan Baker House runs services for adults and children with neurological motor disorders using the method of Conductive Education (CE). CE is a holistic educational movement approach where the participant is actively involved in their learning and can transfer the skills […]
How is our whole body involved in handwriting, including pencil grip and posture? How can muscle control, such as stabilisation of the wrist, affect writing fluency and efficiency? Why is visual perception and visual-motor integration important for handwriting? Presented by Paediatric OT and former NHA Vice-Chair, Catherine Elsey, this webinar will provide a basic introduction to the functional […]
In today’s classrooms the emphasis on student achievement through written expression is at its highest. Current research on writing defines written expression as “the complex self-directed process that involves the higher order cognitive skills of idea generation, planning, organizing, translating, and revising ideas into a written product which communicates meaning.” At The Handwriting Collaborative we […]
How fast is fast enough? What are the benefits of touch typing? Which letters should you start to learn first? Is it best to learn on a standard keyboard, or is a smaller laptop keyboard OK? How far from the screen should you sit? What is the best chair height? And, is it a good […]
How fast is fast enough? What are the benefits of touch typing? Which letters should you start to learn first? Is it best to learn on a standard keyboard, or is a smaller laptop keyboard OK? How far from the screen should you sit? What is the best chair height? And, is it a good […]
Coming in April! Apologies, but due to a keynote presenter becoming unavailable, the NHA’s next 3-day course will now take place in Spring 2022. Specific dates and more information about this hugely popular course will follow soon. When bookings open, we will notify all NHA members by email. Broadly, the course will cover: […]
This year our Members' Day is via Zoom. We will have two presentations about research projects, followed by presentations from some of our corporate members, and finally our AGM. The Members' Day is open to all members and is free of charge. Members should log in and register for the event here. 11am: Researching handwriting […]
Difficulties in producing legible handwriting at sufficient speed can hamper progress and lead to underachievement in secondary school. When difficulties are significant, students may be granted accommodations in normal class work and written examinations, such as allowing typing and use of a word processor. However, little is known about policy and practice in schools regarding […]
This is an online course. The timetable for each of the 3 days is as follows: Day 1: The Foundations of Effective Practice for the Whole School 9.30–9.45 Introduction to the Course 9.45–10.45 Session 1: Essential Understandings in Handwriting 10.45–11.00 Coffee 11.00–12.00 Session 2: The Teaching Steps: The S Factors 12.00–1.00 Lunch 1.00–2.00 Session 3: Warm […]
Many children struggle with low self-esteem as a result of difficulties with handwriting. These children may dislike engaging in handwriting and be difficult to motivate when it comes to writing. This session will present research surrounding handwriting and self-esteem and ideas for motivating children from Key Stage 1 and 2 to engage in handwriting. The […]
This first twilight webinar event is for parents who are currently supporting children’s literacy at home during the Covid-19 lockdown. The session will include a 30-minute presentation on the basic principles of handwriting and typing followed by a 30-minute question and answer session with members of our committee. Hosted by specialist teachers Michelle Stone and […]
Our AGM and presentations for members will be held via Zoom. Presentations will take place from 11am to 1pm, followed by our AGM at 1pm. 11am Presentation: Helping Handwriting Shine (HHS): Experiences from a Randomised Controlled Trial of a School-Led Method of Intervention HHS is a task-oriented, metacognitive approach based on the latest available evidence, […]
PLEASE NOTE THAT NHA HAS POSTPONED THIS EVENT IN LINE WITH GOVERNMENT ADVICE AROUND COVID-19. WE HOPE TO RESCHEDULE AS SOON AS THIS BECOMES POSSIBLE. IF YOU HAVE BOOKED ONTO THIS EVENT, PLEASE CONTACT US FOR A REFUND, AND WE WILL LET YOU KNOW AS SOON AS AN ALTERNATIVE DATE HAS BEEN ARRANGED. A comprehensive […]
PLEASE NOTE THAT NHA HAS POSTPONED THIS EVENT IN LINE WITH GOVERNMENT ADVICE AROUND COVID-19. WE HOPE TO RESCHEDULE AS SOON AS THIS BECOMES POSSIBLE. IF YOU HAVE BOOKED ONTO THIS EVENT, PLEASE CONTACT US FOR A REFUND, AND WE WILL LET YOU KNOW AS SOON AS AN ALTERNATIVE DATE HAS BEEN ARRANGED. Our annual […]
A chance to explore evidence-based practice in the teaching of handwriting. This session is led by Pam Hulme, who chairs the Inset committee of the NHA and is passionate about the teaching of handwriting. Sessions will explore the rationale for the effective teaching of handwriting with reference to recent research, and appropriate progression of skills […]
NHA and Cambridge University Press are offering a free half-day training course for teachers in Leeds on 4 July. Places are limited, so please book early through Eventbrite.
NHA and Cambridge University Press are offering a free half-day training course for teachers in Brighton on 27 June. Places are limited, so please book early through Eventbrite.
The event is being held at Room W3.01 (3rd floor), 20 Bedford Way (the main UCL Institute of Education building). A campus map can be found here. LAST DATE FOR BOOKING: 5 JUNE 2019. No bookings can accepted after this date. Session 1: Supporting Handwriting in Schools Melanie Burrough and Dr Debbie Kramer-Roy will present […]
Angela Webb, psychologist and former chair of the NHA, joins Ewan Clayton, calligrapher, author and Professor in Design at the University of Sunderland, for a discussion of the past, present and future of handwriting. Accompanies the British Library exhibition Writing: Making Your Mark. Tickets available from the British Library.
Follow the remarkable evolution of writing from ancient Egyptian hieroglyphs and early printed text, to note-taking by key thinkers to digital tools. Written works from the British Library’s unparalleled collection illuminate the history of writing and lead into reflection on its future.
Day 1: The Foundations of Effective Practice for the Whole SchoolSession 1: Essential Understandings in HandwritingSession 2: The Teaching Steps: The S Factors Session 3: Wonderful Warm Ups & P Checks Session 4: Curriculum Requirements & Statutory Assessments (0 - 11years)Session 5: A Summary of […]
Join us at this exclusive CPD event, delivered by Pam Hulme of the National Handwriting Association. This half day workshop, suitable for headteachers and literacy coordinators, will provide you with the tools you need to teach handwriting successfully. More details and booking
