Dr Paty Paliokosta
Faculties, deparments and locations
- Faculty of Health, Science, Social Care and Education
- Department of Education
- School of Education, Midwifery and Social Work
- Kingston Hill
Associate Professor in Inclusive Education.
- Email:
- p.paliokosta@kingston.ac.uk
About
I am an Associate Professor in Inclusive Education and a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy. I currently lead the National Award for Special Educational Needs Coordination PgCert, offer equality, diversity and inclusion input in Initial Teacher Education (PgCert) and supervise several research projects at masters and doctoral level. In my past role, as Personal Tutor Scheme Lead for Kingston Faculty of Health, Science, Social Care and Education, I guided and supported colleagues in facilitating students' participation, achievement and well-being. I actively contributed to institutional self-assessment and action planning for improving our diverse students' and staff's experience and outcomes, acknowledging intersectionality across the university.
The different aspects of my professional practice and research as an educator for more than 20 years have been underpinned by the principle of social justice. My commitment to the participation of learners with special educational needs and disabilities (SEN/D) at all levels of their education has been evidenced in my various strategic roles at school and local authority level, as an Inclusion Manager and SEN/D education consultant respectively; this entailed several cross-disciplinary projects that challenged children's exclusions, facilitated evidence-based interventions and provided schools with knowledge and guidance for leading inclusive settings in a multi-disciplinary way.
Diverse learners' interpretations of inclusive policies was the focus of my PhD research and this shaped my consecutive Higher Education undertakings. At KU, I have designed enabling learning strategies for underrepresented groups, such as work-based learners and have led award-winning practice (Disability Awareness Resource) in initial teacher education, based on incorporating research, civic engagement and co-production in the teaching and learning experience. The 'Inclusion and Social Justice' Special Interest Group that I have led for several years serves as a hub of evolving collaborative multi-disciplinary projects across school, faculty, university, the third sector and community, both locally and internationally.
Qualifications
- PhD, Inclusive Education, Canterbury Christ Church University
- MEd in Special Educational Needs, University of Exeter
- BA(Hons) in English Language and Literature (Stream of Linguistics), School of Philosophy, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens
- Certificate in Applied Linguistics, University of Amsterdam
Domains
Over the past 10 years, I have carried out development work, led modules and supervised students within a range of undergraduate and postgraduate courses. I ensure that intra-disciplinary collaborations, projects and practices I am involved in, all become part of the teaching and learning experience of my students. My research-led teaching has been enhanced by the following projects: 'Exploring the concept of reasonable adjustments in relation to disability and social justice for children and young people in a multi-professional context' (ICCIP grant); an 'Evaluation of initial teacher education students' experiences from 20-day extended placement in a special needs school or resource setting' (TDA grant); 'Lessons learnt from Serious Case reviews' (DfE funded) and 'Fighting for our Rights' (HLF funded). Innovative learning opportunities have stemmed from the above, such as co-teaching different groups or disciplines in class and beyond, affecting the curriculum at the schools of education and nursing, connecting with various charities the National Trust. In the context of the SIG on Inclusion and Social Justice, I share this knowledge and support further developments with colleagues and postgraduate students. The doctorate/PhD works I supervise across faculty, retain a thread under the above theme, covering issues of inclusion and diversity within an intersectional lens. I have achieved knowledge exchange and advised the sector by being a reviewer for several journals and external examiner for a number of relevant courses, or by offering funded consultancy to the third sector.
As the Personal Tutor Scheme (PTS) Lead for the Joint Faculty of Health, Social Care and Education (Kingston and St George's) for the past year and a half, I have aimed to bring emphasis on inclusion and social justice to the role; I offer bespoke support to teams and involve colleagues in projects and inclusive toolkits. With my monthly, interactive, themed forums, the HSCE PTS Canvas module and monthly PTS newsletters, I have drawn on existing expertise and expand staff's collective repertoire around Social Justice in HE and beyond. Through my participation in KU's PTS Tasks and Finish group and PTS Advisory group, I support cross-fertilisation of knowledge and practice across faculties. Based on my endeavours on inclusive practice placements in FHSCE, I offer insights on employability to the department of Learning and Teaching Enhancement Centre (LTEC) and the newly formed KU Employability Community of Practice. In response to the rapid shift towards online T&L delivery, due to the pandemic, I have run staff consultations, contribute to the FHSCE Assessment and Feedback Development steering group and lead a KU SADRAS project with the aim to improve students belonging through a co-produced personal tutoring scheme in the online era.
Qualifications
- Reviewer for the Teacher Education Advancement Network Journal
- Reviewer for the Cogent Education Journal
- Reviewer for Child & Family Social Work Journal
- External examiner for the NASENCO Award programme, University of Hull (2020-)
- Academic advisor and research supervisor for Greek students at UNIVERSITÀ DEGLI STUDI GUGLIELMO MARCONI (2014-15)
- External examiner for the Education and Community Field Board in partnership with AKMI (Greece), University of East London (2013-2017)
- External examiner for Masters in Education Board (International Masters Programme), Plymouth University (2012-2016)
- External examiner for the National Award for SEN Board Coordination programme, Plymouth University (2011-2016)
- Evaluator for research programmes Heraclitus and Thalis, Greek Ministry of Education, Lifelong Learning and Religious Affairs (2009-2011)
- 2021 Learning and Teaching Fellow (LTEC-Vice Chancellor Award)
Courses taught
In the context of leading the Special interest group (SIG) on Inclusion and Social Justice several multi-disciplinary funding bids have been attempted and a number of them were secured; alongside these, I have been leading SADRAS projects that secure small research funds for student partners.
2024 UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) (£13,5K) for 'Co-Production of Inclusive Therapeutic Horticulture for Neurodiverse Communities'
2023-24 Support fund (£10K) for Bidding Team: Inclusivity, anti-oppression and underserved communities' network
2022 Impact Awards Evaluation Fund (£7,88K) 'Transforming the curriculum, through a narrative of activism; an evaluation'.
2022 The KU Provost Fellowship Award (£3K)
2021-22 SADRAS (£1K) for working collaboratively with students as partners and colleagues across the joint Faculty of Health Social Care and Education (Kingston University and St. George's) on 'One faculty-two universities; ‘How can my personal tutor help me learn and succeed?'
2020- 21 SADRAS20-18 (£1K) for working collaboratively with students as partners and colleagues across the university on 'The value of the KU PTS as a mechanism for supporting belonging in an online environment'.
2016-2018 Heritage Lottery Fund for £76,9K to KCIL for partnership work with HSCE (schools of Nursing and Education), H2H and St. Philip's school to capture the oral histories of disabled people living in the borough between 1960s and 1990s in the context of Fighting for our Rights Project.
2013-2014 DfE Funding for Study on Serious Case Reviews: £60K with HSCE multi-disciplinary team (with Jones, Rawlings, Maisey, Johnson and Capstick).
2012-2013 IPI Small Grant funded study with FHSCS, KU/SGUL.
2010 ICCIP Innovation and Development Programme: £3K for small scale research on reasonable adjustments in collaboration with SGUL.
Qualifications
- PhD thesis: Inclusive Education and Special Educational Needs: The Impact of Differing School Cultures on Policy Implementation and Practice, as Experienced by Stakeholders in Mainstream Secondary Schools
- Med thesis: Dyslexia and Literacy Difficulties; a Meta Analysis of Teaching Interventions
Specialisms
- Reasonable adjustments in relation to disability and social justice for children and young people in a multi-professional context
- Safeguarding for vulnerable groups
- Exploring policy (SEN Code of Practice) changes in relation to BESD/ SEMH and children with dual and multiple exceptionalities
- Co-production of teachers' professionalism through multi-professional work
- Civic engagement and social justice in the teaching and nursing curriculum
Scholarly affiliations
- British Educational Research Association (BERA) member
- Reviewer for the Journal of Research in Developmental Disabilities
- Reviewer for the Austrian Science Fund (FWF)
In my trajectory as an educator, there is a tight thread connecting my research-led teaching and professional practice, offering cross-fertilisation inside and outside academia. As a consultant for Camden School Improvement Service, I successfully bid for and developed multi-disciplinary projects with impact at Local Authority level and beyond. These aimed at improving children's access and participation to education and included: ‘Transition from Primary to Secondary School for children with SEN/D'; Self-Evaluation Tool for Inclusion- ‘Award for Inclusion'; Drama for Feelings. These tools and case studies of lived experiences are still being used in the HE teaching and learning experiences I develop.
Conversely, the development of material at KU also influence educational practice at schools, higher education and the community. In the context of the Heritage Lottery Funded 'Fighting For our Rights project', I co-produced an Education Resource Pack with student teachers that is available nationally. This multi-disciplinary civic-engagement project with the school of Nursing and H2H and led by Kingston Centre for Independent Living received the KU Inclusive Curricula Award (2018) and the TEAN Commendation Award for Effective Practice in Teacher Education (2019). It has sparked more development work in local schools, scholarly outputs and activity through webinars and research conferences. Further project work is supported and shared with other HE institutions, through the developing community of practice facilitated by the SIG on Inclusion and Social Justice. One such example is a pilot virtual drama project that was initiated during the pandemic, which was co-produced by nursing students, an alumni student teacher and artists, following the principles of H2H.
The development of the ‘Inclusion Passport' and the 'Supporting Students' Inclusive Practice Placements' Network' (AdvanceHE Connect grant) is another example of work-in-progress, interdisciplinary activity in the Faculty of Health, Social Care and Education with impact on our curricula, mentoring strategies, the employer sectors and regulatory bodies our students operate under.
Qualifications and expertise
- Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) (2002)
- Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (2018)
Professional and scholarly affiliations
- LLSENDCiC NASENCo Provider Partnership and NASENCO scoping group member
- External Adviser for the approval of an online National Award Special Educational Needs Coordination (NASENCO) programme
- Co-director for H2H, KU and St George's
- AdvanceHE Connect lead for Network: Inclusion and Social Justice in HE; effective and inclusive transitions to practice placement
- KU EDI Committee Representative for Faculty of Health, Social Care and Education, KU and St George's, University of London
- Chartered College of Teaching member
- Reporting to HSCE Faculty Education Committee, SGUL Race and Ethnicity Network and SGUL Student Support and Welfare Committee
- KU Personal Tutor Scheme Advisory group member
- Personal Tutoring Scheme-Task and Finish group (2019-2020)
Publications
The politics of behaviour from a SEND point of view : towards inclusive and compassionate approaches
Paliokosta, Paty, 2025, Education Politics (33)
Toward inclusion : overhauling the SEND system for a brighter future
Paliokosta, Paty, 2024, Education Politics (27)
Co-design and delivery of a relational learning programme for nursing students and young people with severe and complex learning disabilities
Nash-Patel, Theresa, Morrow, Elizabeth, Paliokosta, Paty, Dundas, Jane, O'Donoghue, Bern and Anderson, Eli, 2022, Nurse Education Today (119), pp 105548
StoryAID : nursing students' relational learning with young people with intellectual learning disabilities
Nash-Patel, Theresa, Anderson, Eli, O'Donaghue, Bern, Paliokosta, Paty and Morrow, Elizabeth, 2022, Journal of Nursing Education
Twice-exceptional students of mathematics : what do the teachers know?
Dimitriadis, Christos, Georgeson, Jan, Paliokosta, Panagiota and Van Herwegen, Jo, 2021, Roeper Review (43), 2, pp 99-111
Fighting for our rights : perceived gains from transforming the curriculum through a narrative of activism
Paliokosta, Paty and Nash, Theresa, 2019, International Journal for Cross-Disciplinary Subjects in Education (10), 2, pp 4041-4047
The power of peers
Litten, Deborah and Paliokosta, Paty, 2013, Special Educational Needs, 64, pp 68-70
Inclusion in school: a policy, ideology or lived experience? Similar findings in diverse school cultures
Paliokosta, Paty and Blandford, Sonia, 2010, Support for Learning (25), 4, pp 179-186
'Behavioural, Emotional and Social Difficulties' im kontext inklusiver bildung in England - eine komplexe kategorie im wandel ['Behavioural, Emotional and Social Difficulties' in the context of inclusive education in England - a complex category in transition]
Paliokosta, Paty and Proyer, Michelle (2015). In: Biewer, Gottfried, (eds.), Bohm, Eva Theresa, (eds.) and Schutz, Sandra, (eds.), Inklusive pädagogik in der sekundarstufe [Inclusive education in secondary schools]. Stuttgart, Germany: Kohlhammer, pp 39-56
Fostering speaking and listening in early years and foundation stage setting
Rask, Hilma, Paliokosta, Paty, Sivalingam, Lalitha and Mukadam, Yasmin (2011). In: Hodson, Pamela, (eds.) and Jones, Deborah, (eds.), Unlocking speaking and listening. London, U.K.: Routledge, pp 35-47
Learning for interprofessionalism: pedagogy for all
Rawlings, Anne and Paliokosta, Paty (2011). In: Trodd, Lynn, (eds.) and Civers, Leo, (eds.), Interprofessional working in practice: learning and working together for children and families. London, U.K.: Open University Press, pp 53-67
Transforming the curriculum through a narrative of activism : a constructive evaluation of the Fighting For Our Rights educational resources
Paliokosta, Paty, Nash-Patel, Theresa, Morrow, Elizabeth, Ooms, Ann, O’Donoghue, Bern, Bassett, Jame and Millar, Joanna (2022). Kingston upon Thames, U.K.:
Study to investigate the barriers to learning from Serious Case Reviews (SCRs) and identify ways of overcoming these barriers
Rawlings, Anne, Paliokosta, Paty, Maisey, Daryl, Johnson, Jessica, Capstick, Jenny and Jones, Ray (2014). Manchester, U.K.: (Department for Education)
Amplifying neurodiverse voices in environmental debates : learning opportunities based around participative research engagement
Back, Elisa and Panagiota Paliokosta, Paty(2024). In: Oxford Education Research Symposium, 15-17 Jul 2024 :Oxford, U.K.
Generating inclusion through a narrative of activism : teachers' experiences of using Fighting for our Rights disability awareness resources in English schools
Paliokosta, Paty, Morrow, Elizabeth, Ooms, Ann, Millar, Joanna and O'Donoghue, Bern(2024). In: Oxford Education Research Symposium, 15-17 Jul 2024 :Oxford, U.K.
Peer support groups : nurturing nuanced understandings of racialized positionalities of personal tutors
Essilfie, Will H., Paliokosta, Paty, Calabrese, Gianpiero and Buckley, Aga(2024). In: UKAT Annual Conference 2024 : Personal Tutoring in the Spotlight, 08-09 Apr 2024 :London, U.K.
Valuing (dis)ability diversity through a narrative of activism
Paliokosta, Paty, Ooms, Ann, Millar, Joanna and Morrow, Elizabeth(2023). In: BERA Annual Conference 2023, 12-14 Sep 2023 :Birmingham, U.K.
The realpedagogik : linking learning design research with learning design practice
Ljubojevic, Dejan, Paliokosta, Paty, Puni, Amit and Wood, Ruth(2021). In: International Research Conference 2021 : (Re)connecting, (Re)building : Higher Education in Transformative Times, 06 - 10 Dec 2021 :Held online
The value of the Personal Tutor Scheme (PTS) as a mechanism of supporting belonging in an online world
Paliokosta, Paty, Lipsedge, Karen, Cunningham, Matthew, Barker, Christopher, Calabrese, Gianpiero, Mulrooney, Hilda, Groves, Konami, Davies, Rachel, Burden, Penny, Bailey, Joanna and Topcu, Mel(2021). In: Horizons in STEM Higher Education Conference: Making Connections, Innovating and Sharing Pedagogy, 29-30 Jun 2021 :Milton Keynes, U.K. (Held online)
The value of the Personal Tutor Scheme (PTS) as a mechanism of supporting belonging in an online world
Paliokosta, Paty, Lipsedge, Karen, Cunningham, Matthew, Barker, Christopher, Calabrese, Gianpiero, Mulrooney, Hilda, Groves, Konami, Davies, Rachel, Burden, Penny, Bailey, Joanna and Topcu, Mel(2021). In: Festival of Learning 2021, 25 Jun 2021 :Kingston upon Thames, U.K. (Held online)
Drama, process and story-making : multi-lingual children's self expression creation and imagination
Paliokosta, Paty and Kostidakis, Theodoros(2019). In: LATE Spring Conference : We are our Stories, 09 Mar 2019 :London, U.K.
‘Fighting for our Rights’, Transforming the curriculum through engagement with real-life experiences.
Paliokosta, Paty and Nash, Theresa(2018). In: World Congress on Special Needs Education (WCSNE-2018), 10-13 Dec 2018 :Cambridge, U.K.
Training and Professional Development for Safeguarding; ‘Voices from the Field’
Paliokosta, Paty and Johnson, Jessica(2014). In: Accountability and Blame in Social Work, 09 Apr 2014 :Kingston, U.K.
‘Reasonable adjustments’ in relation to disability and social justice: Discourses of inclusive ethos in an inter-professional context
Paliokosta, Paty(2014). 08-10 Apr 2014 : London, U.K.
Preparing Student Teachers for 'Inclusion'; Debating Outcomes from Students' Extended Placement in Special Education Settings.
Paliokosta, Paty and Cullum, Bronwen(2012). In: European Conference for Educational Research 2012: The Need for Educational Research to Champion Freedom, Education and Development for All, 18-21 Sep 2012 :Cadiz, Spain
Co- constructing productive pedagogies: a transformative experience for students and lecturers?
Paliokosta, Paty(2012). In: Educational Research Forum, 15 Jun 2012 :Kingston upon Thames, U.K.
Preparing student teachers for 'inclusion'; debating outcomes from students' extended placement in a specialist setting
Paliokosta, Panagiota and Cullum, Bronwen(2012). In: 3rd Teacher Education Advancement Network Annual Conference, 18 May 2012 :Birmingham, U.K.
Identification and assessment - introducing Education, Health and Care Plans
Paliokosta, Paty(2012). In: The next steps for supporting young people with Special Educational Needs, 26 Jan 2012 :London, U.K.
"Reasonable adjustments" in relation to disability and social justice for children and young people in an inter-professional context
Paliokosta, Panagiota and Kindness, Leonie(2011). In: European Conference on Educational Research 2011, Urban Education, 12-16 Sep 2011 :Freie Universitat, Berlin, Germany
Inclusion: cultures and discourses
Paliokosta, Panagiota(2010). In: 3rd Erasmus Mundus Special Education Needs International Conference (EMSENIC) - Towards inclusion: being with others, 24 -25 June 2010 :Roehampton, U.K.
Reading between the lines: rhetoric and policies for inclusive education and the role of the additional adult in English schools
Paliokosta, Panagiota(2009). In: ECER 2009 (European Conference on Educational Research), 28 - 30 Sept 2009 :Vienna, Austria
Inclusive education and special educational needs; the impact of differing school cultures on teachers and other stakeholders' interpretations of these notions and consequent practice within mainstream schools
Paliokosta, Panagiota(2006). In: ECER 2006 (European Conference on Educational Research), 13 - 16 Sept 2006 :Geneva, Switzerland
Inclusive education and special educational needs: the impact of differing school cultures on teachers and other stakeholders' interpretations of these notions and consequent practice within mainstream schools
Paliokosta, Panagiota(2006). In: Transitional Spaces, Transitional Processes and Research, 2 - 5 March 2006 :Volos, Greece
Narrative as a research device for interpreting stakeholders' interpretations of Policy for Special Educational Needs
Paliokosta, Panagiota(2005). In: ESREA Life History and Biography Network Conference, 3 - 6 March 2005 :Anghiari, Italy
Narrative in qualitative research: concerns about bias
Paliokosta, Panagiota(2004). In: ECER 2004 (European Conference on Educational Research), 22 - 25 Sept 2004 :Rethymnon, Crete
Policy for addressing literacy difficulties: interpretations of discourse and resistance with the use of comparative imagination
Paliokosta, Panagiota(2004). In: DPR (Discourse Power and Resistance) Conference, 5 - 7 April 2004 :Plymouth, U.K.
Understanding the experience of having literacy difficulties in an English mainstream secondary school
Paliokosta, Panagiota(2003). In: BERA 2003, 11 - 13 Sept 2003 :Edinburgh, U.K.
Gallery of work
-
Fighting for our rights end of project celebration (2018)
KCIL, h2h, SIG on Inclusion and Social Justice, schools of Nursing and Education, StoryAID, Orchard Trust with the community
-
2019 TEAN Commendation Award for Effective Practice in Teacher Education (University of Cumbria)
The Disability Awareness Resource, stemming from co-production received a national award for its impact on teacher training.
-
Teachers, nurses and KCIL charity project manager, co-taught and co-producing- Fighting for our Rights project (2017)
Exciting times in the development of an inclusive community of practice (2017)
-
H2H Multi-disciplinary Evaluation Picnic at National Trust grounds
Facilitating reflection of nursing students on professional standards in relation to H2H activity
-
Buddying for accessible school activity
Year 2 student teachers with H2H nurses and children at Ham House grounds
-
Inspiring children from Ravensbourne Academy to use activism in their learning
Working with KU public engagement team to support new generations of HE learners
