To ask for job interview help

[wannabedinnerlady]

Posting for traffic.

I have an interview soon for a mid day assistant in a primary school. (Supervising kids eating and playing out).

Has anyone reading this interviewed for this type of role?
Can anyone give me some ideas of potential questions I might be asked?
Anything I could say that would give me the edge?

Im very nervous and have been out of work a long time. I am a parent of two kids at the school and know the staff so they know a bit about me and what I'm like etc.

I haven't interviewed for this role before but wasn't sure how 'soon' the interview was so thought I'd offer some sort of advice.

I suspect they'd go over your previous job history, if any relates to the role you have applied for. Questions about why you want to work in that role. General questions about your strengths/achievements etc.

I'd then prepare for some scenario based questions such as "how would you react to/what would you do if..."

• Kids were fighting
• Child was hurt/chocking
• Spotting welfare issues
• No nuts policy but noticed a child had food containing nuts etc..
• child forgot their lunch

I'd brush up on child protection as I think that would be a key question - what you know about it etc.

Hope that helps and good luck x

Thank you so much, I will write all of this down and prepare something.

I'm great on paper, but terribly nervous in interviews and worry I will talk nonsense, say erm a lot, have a mental block... 😂

They may ask you a safeguarding question. Like what would you do if a child made a worrying disclosure to you?
Do you have an answer prepped for that?

@Itsbeen84yearss

They may ask you a safeguarding question. Like what would you do if a child made a worrying disclosure to you? Do you have an answer prepped for that?

I would listen to the child and remember everything they told me. I would reassure them they did the right thing telling somebody, and I would pass the information on to the safeguarding officer. Definitely wouldn't keep anything to myself even if they asked me to.

I have no safeguarding training so I wouldn't want to try and draw anything out of the child myself.

Would this be ok?

Yeah I think you're right in that situation. On the basis you don't have safeguarding training, then I agree that you shouldn't be seen to try and fill the shoes of the safeguarding officer.
You could add after the "passing to the safeguarding officer" that you'd offer to be there and you could speak to (Mr/Mrs X) together. If they've trusted you enough to tell you then it might be comforting to speak to the safeguarding officer with them; the safeguarding lead can prompt the questions but shows you're willing to go above and beyond to support??

They'll ask you something about safeguarding so make sure you hve an understanding of it

@cherrytreecottage

Yeah I think you're right in that situation. On the basis you don't have safeguarding training, then I agree that you shouldn't be seen to try and fill the shoes of the safeguarding officer. You could add after the "passing to the safeguarding officer" that you'd offer to be there and you could speak to (Mr/Mrs X) together. If they've trusted you enough to tell you then it might be comforting to speak to the safeguarding officer with them; the safeguarding lead can prompt the questions but shows you're willing to go above and beyond to support??

Yes I will do that, thank you!

@wannabedinnerlady

Thank you so much, I will write all of this down and prepare something.

I'm great on paper, but terribly nervous in interviews and worry I will talk nonsense, say erm a lot, have a mental block... 😂

I'm the same! Get incredibly nervous for interviews! 9 times out of 10 I over prepare, but thinking of some difficult situations children can find themselves in and how you'd handle them will definitely help. X

Sorry just thought - the school should have a copy of their child protection policy on their website so definitely read it before the interview!

I've only ever worked for one employer for many years before maternity leave and subsequently deciding to be a stay at home parent.

I obviously have a lot of experience looking after children, one of mine has asd so I could think about transferable skills in that area.

I'm just conscious of drawing everything back to experience just through being a parent, everyone parent has skills looking after a child in some way but it's not necessarily what an employer is looking for.

The answer to the safeguarding question should be, “I would follow the school policy”. The policy should be on the school website so have a look at it before your interview and you might be able to enlarge your answer a bit.
You might be asked how you’d encourage a child to eat, how you might sort out playground squabbles, would you be willing to join in playground games etc?
My school has young children so we always ask if you’d be comfortable with changing nappies or helping children sort themselves out if they’ve had a toilet accident.
Good luck!

@cherrytreecottage

Sorry just thought - the school should have a copy of their child protection policy on their website so definitely read it before the interview!

👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻

If you want a question to ask at the end, ask what training opportunities there will be - do you need to be first aid trained? Are there arrangements to encourage outdoor play at the school by getting PE staff or lunch supervisors put on the yard and actively playing with children?

Thanks everyone!

Anything anyone has to throw at me is much appreciated!

I have recently started at a primary school (diffrent role). The interview they will very likely aks a safeguarding question, so have a look at the safeguarding policy on the website. In my experience they asked what would you do if a child was to make a disclosure to you? - stay calm allow the child to speak and reassure them they were right to tell you and let them know you will need to share this information, pass this information to safeguarding lead or senior member of staff, do not share the information with anyone who is not required to know.

Some other questions were scenario situations e.g: behaviour - again have a look at school behaviour and bullying policy (they may use dojos or house points)

They may ask more generic interview questions as well such as "why do you think your good for this role" and "what 3 words best describe you?" Or "what does working in a team mean to you".

I think most importantly though they will be looking for someone who enjoys children and who has shown they have made an effort to read around the school. Good luck, I'm sure you'll be great .

Hi Op,
Have you had your interview yet? X