Pre-School leader interview questions

[LaurelLeaf]

I have been offered an interview for a one-morning-a-week Pre-School assistant at my son's Pre-School. I am a trained teacher but have not been in teaching for 8 years and have not had an interview for about 12 years! What type of questions are they likely to ask me?!

Please all you Committee members help me out! I'm really nervous at the mo and want some reasurrance that I will have half an idea about what I'm talking about. Many thanks in anticipation!

[geogteach]

I have done interviews for pre school staff, give an example of good and bad communication with a pre school child, examples of when you have worked as part of a team, how would you communicate with a child with EFL?, give examples of health and safety requirements in pre school setting, How would the children's act affect a setting such as this?, are you familiar with EYFS curriculum.
Hope that helps, Good luck.

[LaurelLeaf]

Thanks geogteach, that's really helpful - a definite start to focussing on what I need to be able to grapple with and answer!

I should have addressed this query to any Pre-School managers/leaders/assistants out there too! What kind of question cropped up at your interview? Ta!

[muppetgirl]

have to say in my first teaching interview ever I was asked

'Do you like children?'

I said, yes until I did a year of supply and then I met a few that I didn't.

sorry, inconsequential I know but still makes me chuckle.

[Ripeberry]

Laurelleaf. Most pre-schools are run by volunteer parents and i tell you now that they will be MORE nervous than you!
I'm the committee secretary and next Monday we've got to interview maybe up to 4 applicants and i've never interviewed anyone in my life!
They might ask you things like "What do you understand about "Equality of Opportunity"? and there could be a behavioural problem and how would you deal with it?
Also how would you deal with parents who complain that "My child never brings home a model or painting", What would you say?
Just be yourself at the interview, they just want to know that you will be trustworthy, friendly with children, staff and parents and aproachable (sp?)
Good luck!

[LaurelLeaf]

Thanks, Ripeberry. I have been busy studying my EYFS framework! Hopefully I shall be armed with all the right jargon and answers! Good luck with your interviews.

[marge2]

PLA produces a list of sample questions in their Committees handbook. Last one is
'What woud you do if a child brought a live frog to pre-school?'

Obviously you are meant to treat it as an impromptu natural history lesson and not scream 'yuk' and throw it out the door!!