Ms Kate Oakley

Kate is a dedicated and enthusiastic educator with extensive experience in early childhood education, further and higher education and consultancy.

At the Open University she has worked on pathways in ECYS and HSC, including modules E109, KE206, E219, and E320. This has involved solo and team teaching, student support, assessment and quality review and development. Kate has also contributed to a range of short-term projects and roles. She is passionate about inclusion and accessibility, recently presenting at OU Accessibility and Spoonfest conferences.

Current teaching

• E109 Exploring perspectives on young children's lives and learning (Associate Lecturer)
• KE206 Making a difference: working with children and young people (Associate Lecturer)
• E219 Psychology of childhood and youth (Associate Lecturer)
• E320 Contemporary research with children and young people (Staff Tutor and Co-Lead Cluster Manager)

Current project work

• Module presentation - E320: module team tasks (RTSF, material updates/activity creation, monitoring, EMA forum, TII review)
• HSC 

Current research

• PRAXIS 2024-25: ‘Study With Me’: exploring social approaches to engagement and academic progress in a distance learning environment. (Lead Investigator)
• PRAXIS 2024-25:  Moving on up? Childhood and Youth undergraduate students’ perspectives of postgraduate study. (Co-Investigator: Jon Rainford)

Past project work

• Critical reading - E232: assessments (2025)
• OU Spoonfest 2025 workshop: 'Sensory snacks and focus baskets'
• Module presentation - E109: welcome forum activity
• Inclusive Curriculum Review (ICR) project: review of E119 and E235 (2024)
• Academic Conduct Officer – summer Level 1 casework (2024, 23J)
• OU Accessibility conference 2024: 'Is the obstacle the way? Exploring and understanding barriers to promote accessibility and anti-ableist, anti-racist principles in our everyday practice and interactions.'
• HSC 'Stepping Up Your Study Skills' summer school (2023-2024)
• Module production - E225 (E219 remake): study skills activities (2024)

Past research

• Ofsted 2020: Fieldwork and thematic analysis for Ofsted’s ‘COVID-19 series: briefing on early years’.
• Sheffield University 2018: ‘Exploring the impact of a four-dimensional approach to reviewing, reflecting on and developing practice within an early childhood education setting.’
• Norfolk County Council 2017-2018: Action research developing a county-wide practice hub and event series ‘Norfolk Early Years Seminars’
• Derby University 2018: ‘The assessment of sleep behaviour of parents of young children using the theory of planned behaviour.’