Chartered Psychologist (BPS), PhD, MSc, FHEA

Associate Professor in Psychology and Human Development at UCL Institute of Education, London

Selected Funded Projects


An international analysis of SEND policy and practice: ScopeSEND 

(2024 to 2026)

Principal Investigator


Funded by the Nuffield Foundation, this project will examine and compare policies regulating provision for Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) in the four countries of the UK and five other jurisdictions: the Republic of Ireland, Australia, Switzerland, Belgium and Finland.

Follow our project here.

Optimising collaborations and reducing inequalities of Early Childhood Intervention in post-Covid-19 South Africa

(2021 to 2023)

Principal Investigator


Project funded by the British Academy, under their Tackling Global Challenges 2020 call. The project looks to generate evidence of effective multi-agency practices that improve early childhood intervention services in South Africa.

The work was led by Dr Castro-Kemp with the collaboration of Pretoria University colleagues (Centre for Augmentative and Alternative Communication and School of Arts).

Download the step-by-step framework for development of collaborations;

Watch our infomotions on collaboration for provision of services in early childhood.

Froebel meets Ofsted: What makes an outstanding nursery? 

(2020 to 2022)

Principal Investigator


Project funded by the Froebel Trust, analysing the link between Ofsted inspections of early education settings and children's developmental outcomes.


Read our paper showing Ofsted inspections in Early Years may be too narrow.


Read our paper where Early Years managers share ideas on how to improve Ofsted inspections.





ICF Med-Use: Using the International Classification of Functioning Disability and Health for multi-disciplinary teams in early childhood intervention (2015-2018)

Multi-country consortium


Project Funded by Erasmus+ to support multi-agency work for the improvement of service provision for children with disabilities. 

Learn more and try our resources here.

ICF Train

Multi-country consortium

Project Funded by Erasmus+ to support training on using the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health to describe children's needs and abilities.

Learn more and try our resources here.

Get in touch via S.Castro-Kemp@ucl.ac.uk