RfP Team profiles

Teresa Cremin

                                                                        Professor Teresa Cremin is co-Director of the OU’s Literacy and Social Justice Centre and leads the reading for pleasure team to develop the life-changing habit of reading in all children (and teachers). An ex-teacher, and ITT educator, Teresa has published over 30 books on teaching literacy and is an appointed DfE RfP expert, a Fellow of the English Association, the Academy of Social Sciences and the RSA. 

Kelly Ashley, a lecturer in Reading for Pleasure at The Open University, has nearly 25 years of experience in education.  She has worked as a primary school teacher, senior leader, professional development lead, coach and author in both the UK and the US.  Kelly is a programme facilitator and mentor for the Reading Schools Programme and she also supports wider RfP development work as part of the OU team.            

Debbie Thomas is a lecturer in Reading for Pleasure in the OU’s RfP team, working to promote research informed practice across schools. She has over 20 years’ experience as a teacher and consultant, specialising in English, including supporting a wide range of schools and settings with all aspects of teaching, leading, inspecting English and assessment. She facilitates on the NPQ programmes and delivers phonics and early reading audits for English Hubs. Debbie is the proud co-founder of the Spark! School Book Awards.

Dr Helen Hendry is a Senior Lecturer and researcher in Primary Education. An Early Years, Primary English and inclusion specialist. Helen draws on a longstanding career as class teacher, senior leader, advisory teacher, and teacher trainer working with diverse schools across the UK. Her recent research focuses on ECTs and reading, book talk in EY and reading and writing for pleasure programmes for children, teachers, and families. Helen leads the OU/ UKLA Student teacher Reading for Pleasure ambassador scheme with students from 32 HEIs.
Stephanie Hilder is an RfP lecturer at the Open University and has worked in primary education for over twenty years as a teacher, senior leader, consultant and advisor for English. She continues to work closely with colleagues who are school-based and is particularly interested in the research and practice junction and exploring this through collaboration and CPD. 

Kat Vallely

Kat Vallely is a Staff Tutor in Education, Childhood, Youth and Sport (ECYS) at the Open University where she supports tutors across three pathways of study. Prior to working in HE, Kat was a practising teacher and taught across Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) and KS1 in London schools. She held a variety of positions including EYFS lead, subject lead, phonics lead, and was a Local Authority SATS Moderator.Kat moved into HE in 2017 and worked in Initial Teacher Training (ITT) at the University of Greenwich, where she was the English lead for both undergraduate and post graduate students.