TA's...come and tell me about your interview, please.

[lucysmam]

I've been convinced to apply for a TA position at the school I currently work at (as a dinner lady). The closing date is Friday THIS WEEK!!! and interviews next Tuesday.

If I get an interview, what can I expect?

I know I know all the staff, and it's the ladies I would be working with who have encouraged me to apply, but I'm nervous before I've even managed to finish the form . I haven't applied for a "proper" job in a long time.

I guess it depends on what key stage you would be working with and if it’s a class TA position or a 1:1 type position. I imagine it will include some safeguarding questions though.

hmmwhattodo KS1 class TA.

I had a tour of the school, 30 minutes to prepare a 20 minute activity with a small group of students and an interview with the deputy head, the SENDCO and the school nurse. I got the job!

What sort of activity Indiana? Something crafty? (I'm always in longer than just my working hours, doing something or other crafty with various classes).

I would expect you to do a task with a group of four to six children, so I could see how you interact with them and how they respond to you. Probably I’d ask for a maths or literacy task. Then, the interview questions would be around what you know about the school, what you might do in various scenarios, safeguarding, school policies.

I’d look at policies on the school website and in fact, I’d get as much information from the school website as possible. Bear in mind that, although you know many of the people in the school, you have to sell yourself and show what you can do, so you have to pretend you haven’t met them before and show yourself off. Don’t assume they know how good you are. You have to demonstrate to them that you are.

Have you been volunteering in the classroom?

hmmwhattodo, not that particular classroom but both KS1 and KS2 classes reading and crafting and baking. Little bits that there aren't the staff numbers to do in smaller groups or 1-1.

Right, brush up on policies is number one job on the to-do list. Along with actually finish my application.

(Then flap about what on Earth I'd actually wear that's smart enough...I'm normally in dark skinny jeans and a jumper)

Read up on safeguarding. Be prepared to answer ‘what would you do if xxxxx’ type questions (usually relating to safeguarding).
Also read up on the KS1 curriculum, not in massive detail but it’s good to know the basic expectations and goals (the DfE KS1 curriculum guidelines can be found online).
Good luck op