Presentation Schedule
Sensory Classroom Teacher Questionnaire (SCTQ): Supporting Sensory Ergonomics and Inclusive Education (101896)
Session Chair: Josephine Pui-Hing Wong
Monday, 11 May 2026 15:30
Session: Session 4
Room: Room G401 (4F)
Presentation Type: Oral Presentation
The Sensory Classroom Teacher Questionnaire (SCTQ) is a psycho-educational tool designed to help early childhood teachers create sensory-informed learning environments that support the needs of learners, particularly those with sensory integration/processing challenges. Unlike tools that offer isolated strategies, the SCTQ takes a holistic approach to sensory ergonomics, guiding teachers in optimizing early childhood classroom environments to promote behavioral regulation, cognitive development, socio-emotional well-being, and physical comfort. The SCTQ was developed and refined through an exploratory mixed-methods study in South Africa, involving quantitative validation and thematic analysis of qualitative data from 23 focus groups with 88 early childhood teachers across diverse Quintile 1–5 schools. Cross-disciplinary specialists evaluated the SCTQ for content validity, while Rasch analysis and Bayesian confirmatory factor analysis confirmed its internal reliability and construct validity. Revisions to the SCTQ included refining item wording and response categories to improve clarity and practical use, resulting in a three-point scale that better reflected teachers’ observations. Grounded in the sensory integration literature and developed through collaboration with a cross-disciplinary team of experts, the SCTQ is contextually, culturally, and socio-economically relevant, offering a practical tool to promote diversity, equity, accessibility, and inclusion in sensory classroom design. The SCTQ empowers early childhood teachers to support learners’ sensory needs and their own professional well-being, fostering more inclusive and sustainable educational environments.
Authors:
Hannelie Du Preez, University of Pretoria, South Africa
Celeste Combrinck, University of Pretoria, South Africa
About the Presenter(s)
Dr. Hannelie du Preez is a Associate Researcher at University of Pretoria.
Additional website of interest
https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1194-427X
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