Catherine Antalek

Catherine is a Research Fellow at UCL’s Institute of Education. Her research focuses on policy and provision for children and young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND), with particular interest in how support needs are identified, how provision is organised, and how policy decisions shape everyday practice in schools. Catherine’s research is informed by a background in reading, literacy difficulties, dyslexia, and inclusive education. Before her doctorate, she taught English as a second language to primary aged children in Madrid through a programme funded by the Spanish Ministry of Education.

She has worked with the Department for Education in England on a number of evidence reviews examining best practice for identifying and supporting children and young people with SEND. This work has included synthesising evidence on approaches to assessment, classroom support, targeted intervention, and system level provision across different areas of need. Her current work is an international evaluation of SEND policy and provision across 17 countries. This project examines how different education systems define SEND, allocate support, involve families and professionals in decision making, and manage the relationship between national policy and local implementation.