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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

TA/Teacher advice

52 replies

StarDolphins · 21/07/2025 11:42

Are there’s any TA/Teachers that can give me some urgent advice ahead of an interview I didn’t expect to get?

I’ve just been invited to an interview at 4.20pm today. I have zero TA qualifications/experience (but told them I was very willing to learn/get TA/safeguarding/prevent/whatever). It’s for a grade 7 TA and now I’m crapping myself!

They’ve told me it will be the following - 10 minute activity, 10 mins reading comprehension followed by a 40 min interview.

So my AIBU is, would I be unreasonable to ask someone to give me more info and the sort of things the above might be and any tips to shine?! I am going to be extremely interactive with the kids, I’m going to think of some examples of where I’ve got my own child to learn despite obstacles etc but I have absolutely no idea about what else I need to be doing/saying!

OP posts:
NCTDN · 21/07/2025 11:43

Of course yanbu.
Grade 7 is very high for a TA though if that’s the same as level 7? Our highest is level 3.

Original poster
StarDolphins · 21/07/2025 11:49

NCTDN · 21/07/2025 11:43

Of course yanbu.
Grade 7 is very high for a TA though if that’s the same as level 7? Our highest is level 3.

It definitely said that, I’m hoping it was a mistake otherwise they’ll be very disappointed with me🤣

OP posts:
Twinkylightsg · 21/07/2025 11:52

Grade 7 ta is basically an HLTA.

Bluevelvetsofa · 21/07/2025 11:55

What age?

The activity and reading comprehension will depend on that.

OlderGlaswegianLivingInDevon · 21/07/2025 11:55

So what do you currently work as ?

lonelyplanet13 · 21/07/2025 11:56

If they were going to ask you to prepare an activity they would’ve given you a topic , age range etc in advance .
in previous interviews I’ve been told to prepare for an example a literacy activity , with the expected outcome for year four .
how would the children be present if the interview is at 4.20 ?
to be honest with you a massive amount part of being a TA is to have quick thinking and creativity as you can be given as much planning as possible but the day is changeable and you always need to differentiate to the needs of the children etc . So if they want to see how you naturally shine I doubt further information will be given .
read through the website , see what morals and ethics the school works towards . If it’s a faith school , there will always be a question on this . There will be a safeguarding question . The questions I’ve always been asked are what would you do in this situation ones … or what’s your experience of this .
re read the job description and your application as they must of like what they’ve seen to invite to interview.
be prepared for a panel .

Original poster
StarDolphins · 21/07/2025 11:56

I clearly stated in my application that I lacked the qualifications but I am eager to learn! Plus they know of me and what I do now so they know it’s not something I’ve done!

OP posts:
Original poster
StarDolphins · 21/07/2025 11:57

Bluevelvetsofa · 21/07/2025 11:55

What age?

The activity and reading comprehension will depend on that.

It’s from Y3-Y6

OP posts:
everychildmatters · 21/07/2025 11:57

Be careful - TAs are now often used as unqualified teachers.

Brokenforsummer · 21/07/2025 11:58

Are you in England? Most school don’t have any children around at 4.20. What age group and what activities are you thinking of planning?

Twinkylightsg · 21/07/2025 11:58

So what do you have to lose? Just go try your best. It will be experience for next time you apply to a similiar role. Interviews are good practice.

Original poster
StarDolphins · 21/07/2025 11:59

OlderGlaswegianLivingInDevon · 21/07/2025 11:55

So what do you currently work as ?

I design play areas. My child goes to the school where my interview is. I have helped out at discos/tombola where I’ve told them what I do. They can’t think I have the relevant qualifications.

OP posts:
lonelyplanet13 · 21/07/2025 11:59

everychildmatters · 21/07/2025 11:57

Be careful - TAs are now often used as unqualified teachers.

Edited

Very good point ! The role requires maximum work for minimum pay . I’ve often took work home with me . There is also an expectation that you attend school events in your free very unpaid time

Bluevelvetsofa · 21/07/2025 12:00

But you’d have a very different approach from year 3 to year 6.

If it is a late afternoon interview, are they asking a group of children to be there?

Original poster
StarDolphins · 21/07/2025 12:09

Sorry, just looked again and it says 14.20! I skim read the letter in shock!

I don’t like the sound of unqualified teacher!

OP posts:
Original poster
StarDolphins · 21/07/2025 12:13

lonelyplanet13 · 21/07/2025 11:56

If they were going to ask you to prepare an activity they would’ve given you a topic , age range etc in advance .
in previous interviews I’ve been told to prepare for an example a literacy activity , with the expected outcome for year four .
how would the children be present if the interview is at 4.20 ?
to be honest with you a massive amount part of being a TA is to have quick thinking and creativity as you can be given as much planning as possible but the day is changeable and you always need to differentiate to the needs of the children etc . So if they want to see how you naturally shine I doubt further information will be given .
read through the website , see what morals and ethics the school works towards . If it’s a faith school , there will always be a question on this . There will be a safeguarding question . The questions I’ve always been asked are what would you do in this situation ones … or what’s your experience of this .
re read the job description and your application as they must of like what they’ve seen to invite to interview.
be prepared for a panel .

Thank you very much! No mention of prep at all in the letter or on the phone! It’s not a faith school. I’ve read through their website and I will write some stuff down about safeguarding too.

Can you give me examples of the ‘what would you do in this situation’ type questions?

I think I’ll just have to wing it and be really nice to the kids and really jolly and interactive and hope for the best🤣

OP posts:
lonelyplanet13 · 21/07/2025 12:14

the roles evolved over years . And budgets are tight ! You will be teaching . If it’s a year 3-6 role you will be planning and running interventions on target groups . You will be accountable to show progress . Whilst the teacher is teaching you will be teaching a targeted group alongside . You will also have to mark any work you teach . There’s also class admin , reading books , break duties to cover . First aid etc .

Original poster
StarDolphins · 21/07/2025 12:15

Bluevelvetsofa · 21/07/2025 12:00

But you’d have a very different approach from year 3 to year 6.

If it is a late afternoon interview, are they asking a group of children to be there?

Sorry, it’s 2.20pm, I skim read. I don’t think I will know until I get there what age the small group of kids will be!

OP posts:
DaydreamBongospirit · 21/07/2025 12:15

I'd be really surprised if a Grade 7 job was just a 'bog standard' TA job. I've only ever seen them at Grade 5. Grade 7 tends to be senior ETA or HLTA.

I'd look at the website, the school and/or academy trust policies like their safeguarding and behaviour policies, the information about the school ethos and values. If you can refer back to them in your answers it will look good.

Questions I've been asked include what would you do if a child told you something and asked you to keep it a secret? How would you respond if a child disclosed something that concerned you? What would you do if you were supporting a child and they just weren't getting it which was followed up with what would you do if your adaptations didn't work?

I have to say I'd think really carefully about working in the school your child attends. I've been there and done it and actually, it wasn't great; teachers felt it was okay to approach me about behaviour or other issues during my working hours instead of treating me like another parent and all the kids would come and tell tales too.

I was a TA for a good number of years but left education a year ago and won't be going back for lots of reasons, the least of which was that I was being used as an unpaid teacher.

Original poster
StarDolphins · 21/07/2025 12:17

lonelyplanet13 · 21/07/2025 12:14

the roles evolved over years . And budgets are tight ! You will be teaching . If it’s a year 3-6 role you will be planning and running interventions on target groups . You will be accountable to show progress . Whilst the teacher is teaching you will be teaching a targeted group alongside . You will also have to mark any work you teach . There’s also class admin , reading books , break duties to cover . First aid etc .

Thank you! You’re scaring me🤣 but I understand what you’re saying. I will go and decide if I want this if I’m offered it. It will depend on hours etc too as I’m a single parent.

OP posts:
Original poster
StarDolphins · 21/07/2025 12:21

DaydreamBongospirit · 21/07/2025 12:15

I'd be really surprised if a Grade 7 job was just a 'bog standard' TA job. I've only ever seen them at Grade 5. Grade 7 tends to be senior ETA or HLTA.

I'd look at the website, the school and/or academy trust policies like their safeguarding and behaviour policies, the information about the school ethos and values. If you can refer back to them in your answers it will look good.

Questions I've been asked include what would you do if a child told you something and asked you to keep it a secret? How would you respond if a child disclosed something that concerned you? What would you do if you were supporting a child and they just weren't getting it which was followed up with what would you do if your adaptations didn't work?

I have to say I'd think really carefully about working in the school your child attends. I've been there and done it and actually, it wasn't great; teachers felt it was okay to approach me about behaviour or other issues during my working hours instead of treating me like another parent and all the kids would come and tell tales too.

I was a TA for a good number of years but left education a year ago and won't be going back for lots of reasons, the least of which was that I was being used as an unpaid teacher.

Thank you so much for this, very helpful! What would I say for what if the adaptations didn’t work? I don’t know what I would do if the child wasn’t getting it after adaptations because I can’t just say give up! I’d try coming up with suggestions like if it was reading, what about we read a word each etc but if that didn’t work then I don’t know?

OP posts:
Enigma53 · 21/07/2025 12:22

G7 is HLTA at our place.
They plan and deliver some lessons and do lots of cover work.

Safeguarding is huge in schools.
They will ask you what you would do in different scenarios.

They will look at your engagement with the children and how you interact and perhaps differentiate resources for different children.

You will probably be asked why you want to be a TA. What your greatest strengths and skills are.

Find out about the school.
Read its latest ofsted report ( so you can perhaps refer to it during interview.

Good luck OP.

Original poster
StarDolphins · 21/07/2025 12:22

DaydreamBongospirit · 21/07/2025 12:15

I'd be really surprised if a Grade 7 job was just a 'bog standard' TA job. I've only ever seen them at Grade 5. Grade 7 tends to be senior ETA or HLTA.

I'd look at the website, the school and/or academy trust policies like their safeguarding and behaviour policies, the information about the school ethos and values. If you can refer back to them in your answers it will look good.

Questions I've been asked include what would you do if a child told you something and asked you to keep it a secret? How would you respond if a child disclosed something that concerned you? What would you do if you were supporting a child and they just weren't getting it which was followed up with what would you do if your adaptations didn't work?

I have to say I'd think really carefully about working in the school your child attends. I've been there and done it and actually, it wasn't great; teachers felt it was okay to approach me about behaviour or other issues during my working hours instead of treating me like another parent and all the kids would come and tell tales too.

I was a TA for a good number of years but left education a year ago and won't be going back for lots of reasons, the least of which was that I was being used as an unpaid teacher.

I really will need to have a good think because a lot of the kids know me so i definitely don’t want that!

OP posts:
DaydreamBongospirit · 21/07/2025 12:25

StarDolphins · 21/07/2025 12:21

Thank you so much for this, very helpful! What would I say for what if the adaptations didn’t work? I don’t know what I would do if the child wasn’t getting it after adaptations because I can’t just say give up! I’d try coming up with suggestions like if it was reading, what about we read a word each etc but if that didn’t work then I don’t know?

Show quote history

Discuss with the teacher and the sendco and see if they could suggest anything that might help. Research resources that might help or interventions that could support.

Speaking of interventions, we had to plan, resource and deliver our own small group interventions in maths, reading comprehension and grammar. Sometimes 1:1 too.

Original poster
StarDolphins · 21/07/2025 12:25

Enigma53 · 21/07/2025 12:22

G7 is HLTA at our place.
They plan and deliver some lessons and do lots of cover work.

Safeguarding is huge in schools.
They will ask you what you would do in different scenarios.

They will look at your engagement with the children and how you interact and perhaps differentiate resources for different children.

You will probably be asked why you want to be a TA. What your greatest strengths and skills are.

Find out about the school.
Read its latest ofsted report ( so you can perhaps refer to it during interview.

Good luck OP.

Edited

Thank you, I can engage great with children and answer my strengths etc.

I will have to do the gov safeguarding course tonight otherwise my stock answer will be ‘tell the safeguarding lead’🤣

OP posts: