Mrs Kat Vallely

Professional biography

Kat’s research interests include:

• Children and young people’s identity development
• Children’s communication and language skills
• Children and young people with care experienced backgrounds
• Childhood mental health
• Qualitative research methodologies – developing participatory, responsive approaches through multimodal forms of communication 

Kat is currently working on a scholarship and research project with the ECYS Student Voice and Wellbeing (SVWB). The SVWB group provides strategic direction and leadership to develop an inclusive, valuable, and supportive space to encourage partnership working that strengthens student voice and facilitates opportunities for empowerment which ensures student voice is heard, listened to, and acted upon. The group encourages participation from under-represented student groups and aims to promote positive wellbeing through making opportunities to increase the role of student voice within and across their OU experiences as a student. The scholarship and research project work that Kat is currently working on is aiming to explore Student Voice and how it is included in module planning, production, and maintenance across ECYS.

In Higher Education Kat has taught a range of topics, subject areas and courses including:

• PGCE Primary 
• BA Hons Primary Education
• BA Hons Education
• Literacy and Language
• Early Years Education
• Learning Outside the Classroom
• Safeguarding
• Relationships and Sex Education
• Reading for Pleasure
• Writing for Pleasure
• Teacher Professionalism
• Technology Enhanced Teaching and Learning
• Student Learning Experience
• Pedagogy, Learning & Teaching
• Teacher Wellbeing & Self-Care

From 2018-2021 Kat was the United Kingdom Literacy Association’s (UKLA) Regional Representative. In this role, Kat implemented global monthly CPD opportunities through Twitter (#UKLAChat). These chats featured four key questions that ignited curiosity, wonder and exploration. As answers were published during the live chat, respondents were able to learn, discuss and share ideas. These interactions received international recognition and showed commitment to equality through the broad range of topics that were covered each month. In her role as Regional Representative, Kat also sat on both the National Committee and Executive Committees at UKLA.

Since joining The Open University Kat is working with Professor Teresa Cremin, including as the role of Reading for Pleasure mentor. Within this role she is supporting schools in gaining their national certification towards becoming an accredited Reading for Pleasure School. 

Further impact and engagement activities include Kat planning and organising annual education conferences, where she held responsibility of effectively managing the budget, whilst ensuring that the day was stimulating, inclusive of all attendees and engaging throughout. Additionally, she has been responsible for inviting members of the wider community, such as: Roma Gypsy Story Tellers, The Reflecting Realities Team, Non-binary individuals within education, and The Holocaust Education team to share their insights and perspectives during organised educational events.

Kat has also contributed to the QAA Collaborative Enhancement Projects where she has joined other QAA members to explore shared areas of interest in the pursuit of an enhanced student learning experience.

• University of Greenwich (PT lecturer)
• University of Middlesex (External Examiner)
• UKLA