Job rejection from child’s school

[Girlymiddleagedmum]

Bit of a curious one and I wondered if anyone else has had a similar experience. I’m a trained primary teacher and I’ve been working as a supply TA since June 2025 across a few local schools. I’ve had good feedback everywhere I’ve been, especially around SEND support. I’ve also done quite a bit of CPD on neurodiversity (autism, ADHD, inclusive practice etc.), and I volunteer at my daughter’s school for forest school too. So I’m known and have good relationships with them. On the PTA. I also work as an exam invigilator at the local high school.

There were three LSA roles advertised at my daughter’s school recently and didn’t get shortlisted for any of them. The feedback I got was very generic — nothing specific or useful. A good friend of mine, who’s an ex‑teacher and SENCO, helped me with my statement and she was genuinely shocked I didn’t even get an interview.

A few people have said it might be because I’m a parent at the school and they don’t want any more parents working there — they already have two. No idea if that’s true, but it does seem to be something people mention.

Just wondering if anyone else has found their child’s school harder to get into job‑wise than other schools. Is it just one of those things?

Also to add I left teaching just before having my kids for life balance. And did a bit of admin but always wanted to carry in working in schools so that’s why I returned as a supply Teaching assistant instead.

My first thought was that it's because you're a parent of a child at the school. I work in a school where a high proportion of the LSAs are parents and it's something that other staff definitely grumble about (not having parents cover their own child's class becomes really difficult).

Definitely don’t want parents as staff, there’s four parents at my sons school who are TAs and it’s a right pain in the arse for the teachers as they cannot be in their childs class. (Friends with one of the teachers not just hersay.)

As a long standing ta , we do employ parents in our school, but it’s definitely not popular with the rest of the staff , and frequently causes issues. (In fact I would say it causes issues more times then it’s gone ok)

so maybe your best off looking elsewhere anyway. Could be any number of things- already having someone in mind is common!

I suggest applying to other schools. I reckon you will be taken on very soon as you know relevant information. All the best OP.

The concern will have been that you are a qualified teacher and might leave if offered a teaching role. They will not be allowed to ask you this but that will be what is going on in the back of their minds. I would suggest that you include something along the lines of wanting to focus on your child for several years, whilst maintaining your core SEND skill set. You could turn it into a positive by saying that other schools have been able to use you as cover, which reassures parents when staff are on sick leave albeit that they then pay you as a qualified teacher..

Our school doesn’t want to hire parents because assumption is that you might leave when your child leaves so turnover can be high

My Mum volunteered at my brothers school while i was young but never wanted to work full time there. After she qualified she was very reluctant to move me to her school and only did after i was well past the year that she taught. She was so worried about being accused of favouritism she was quite horrible to me. They also had investigate after i was pushed over by a child in my Mums class that i hadn't been deliberately targeted cos my Mum had told him off. I know some schools are reluctant to employ parents but are not against taking on the children if the parent/teacher is there first.