Project R-16000

Optimizing School Environments to Support Children's Participation: An Occupational Perspective (Research)

School participation, including attendance and involvement, is crucial for children's development and well-being. Children with fewer opportunities (CwFO), such as those from low socioeconomic backgrounds or with disabilities, often face environmental barriers at school, leading to reduced school participation, educational underperformance, and poorer health. There is a need for inclusive, accessible school environments to improve school participation for CwFO. However, the specific environmental school components influencing children's school participation remain unclear, and no comprehensive assessment tool addressing this relationship currently exists. This research aims to gain a deeper understanding of the various environmental components and their impact on children's school participation. Three objectives will be addressed across three structured work packages. 1) The development of a conceptual model for the school environment and school participation to elucidate this relationship. 2) The development and validation of an assessment tool to operationalize the model. 3) The investigation of which environmental components can explain school participation. Collaboration with key stakeholders, including primary school teachers, will ensure the relevance, applicability, and feasibility of the developed model and tool. The findings will empower teachers to get insight into their class and school environment and to improve and adapt this environment, fostering inclusivity.

01 November 2025 - 31 October 2029