Advice- interview TA

[Bluebelleswood]

My niece has an interview for the position of TA. It's her first job, is anyone able to offer her any tips?

[HollyDayzacummin]

Competition will probably be tough. For each position at our school there is always a huge number of applicants, so she should be really proud that she's been asked for an interview. Only the chosen few do, so she's clearly made a good impression.

She should focus on what she's put in her CV and job app. Think of all the different questions she might be asked and to think about the reasons why she wants the job. Focus ont he positives, know a bit about Diversity, Health and Safety, current child related school policies appropriate to the stage the job is based in and as much about the school she's going to work for as she can gather from the web. If you look at the place you're interviewing for, you can generally get a really good feel for the things that are important to the staff and what their ethos is. You can often get details on their most important internal policies on line too.

Good luck to your niece. If she gets in it's a fab job, imo. It can be tough, but it is really rewarding too on the flipside and, if you decide it's for you, you can study all sorts of qualifications from the NVQ CACHE equivalent Learning and Support qualification through to foundation degress and ultimately, teaching qualifications. Hope she gets the job :)

[hellhasnofurylikeahungrywoman]

Brush up on child protection answers as something usually comes up on the subject in interviews ime.

[blackcoffee]

Sorry if any of this is obvious. Look at school's website so she can show some prior knowledge, and maybe their Ofsted report to identify priorities. You don't say if it is a class TA or a TA assigned to eg a statemented child - this would determine some of her research. Smart, professional, - and smiley and enthusiastic, showing a real passion for learning and initiative to develop as required within the role. Good luck!

[blackcoffee]

If she gets a tricky 'what would you do if' refer to school policies eg behaviour - remember to say you'd follow school's behaviour policy

[Bluebelleswood]

Thank you all for your replies, it was kind of you to take the time to help. My niece found all the replies very useful. She is going to get down to some serious research and preparation now.
Knowing that she is doing well to have even made the interview stage has also given her a bit more confidence.

Many thanks again!