TA/Teacher advice

[StarDolphins]

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!

I did the job for ten years as a single parent . It was perfect for being able to work without being reliant on childcare .
if you want honesty go for the interview it’s a rewarding job . But it’s also so frustrating and exhausting at the same time . From the day I started an apprenticeship to the day I left education the role has become less about the children and more about results . I personally didn’t like the pressure on children to perform any more .
peoples replies to your post are valid . It’s not a rainbows kind of role . That’s why people are being honest . The expectations vs the day to reality of being is a TA is huge . I’ve seen many people come and go within a term as it wasn’t what they thought it was .
just be open and honest in the interview. Tell them what inspired you to apply and roll from there. I wish you luck , and hope it works out for you .
also- always join a union ASAP ! The school world is wild ! If you’ve no formal experience take all the training available and listen to the other TAs when you start ! They’re always full of invaluable information x

Thank you very much, I’ve screen shot this to add to my prep tonight, very helpful

Thank you, very helpful! I am ringing a TA that works there tonight for advice and more info so will see how it goes.

What if some don’t progress, will be might fault?😱

There will more than likely be a safeguarding question. The answer is always go to the DSL no matter how small the concern because it might be part of a bigger picture, if it is a concern about another member of staff you go to the headteacher.

Focus on how you can support kids to learn and work without you doing their work for them, the TAs at my school drive me mad because they just do the kids work rather than understanding that the work isn’t set just so it looks good in a book.

Talk about how you will adapt tasks to meet EHCPs to ensure kids are well regulated and can access learning. You will follow instruction from the teacher when needed. Give an example of when you’ve led small groups maybe to highlight your confidence in group intervention.

yes and no . You will need to reflect and evidence what work you’ve undertaken and why you think that didn’t work and how you can adapt that so it’s child centred to their individual needs . When you build relationships with the children it’s easier to reflect as you will have an understanding of them . But for example if it’s a reading recovery programme and the child hasn’t met expected progress you would highlight the things that have worked and what the child hasn’t enjoyed and how your you going to use the positives to build on the areas that need strengthening. You could say in maths that child found this method easier to use , but struggled with another so you can adapt your approach . It’s about acknowledging that you have to adapt your approach and what’s planned may not work . So it wouldn’t be your fault but you would need to explain how you’re going to change your approach to support the child . For example using visual aids , physical resources to support learning rather than verbally explaining a topic

If the child isn’t getting something, go back to basics, tiny steps, model it. Good luck

I guess you have changed some details to keep yourself anon ?

as firstly you say the interview is today, but you will phone someone tonight thus inferring it is tomorrow.

If the job just so happens to be where I live - username says it all, I may know of you.

Sorry yes I have changed (unsuccessfully🤣) details incase anyone I know is on here, I’ve literally only told my friend that works there as I need her advice and my other friend because she’s my reference!

I’m not even telling my DD. I wanted to tell nobody but need advice.

Oh gosh! Is your username a true? Might be a clue as to whether I know you!

btw if the interview had been at 4.20pm today, then if there is an after school club then the school could use the children that attend.

@BeckyBloom @lonelyplanet13 @Teenybub thank you all for such really helpful advice! And everyone else too actually, you’ve all been amazing.

My username is very true.

If you are who I think you could be, we have not met - that i know of.
but I have driven past your car many times - if the company name is on your car.

The answer to everything safeguarding related is to do what is in the best interest of the child and be professional and transparent.

That means listening to a disclosure, not asking leading questions, record accurately, using the child's own words, make it clear that it cannot be kept a 'secret' but will be shared with someone who can help, passing on promptly and not letting the child leave to a potentially unsafe situation.

Safety and wellbeing comes first, but then after that is learning. Focus on how children will be supported to make progress. That's everything from encouraging confidence, scaffolding you provide, questions you ask, feedback you give. Getting and keeping their attention, communicating and explaining effectively, managing behaviour, checking what they know.

Thank goodness!🤣 I am nowhere near any of those places, I’m midlands! Not that it would’ve mattered really I guess!

Are you sure it’s not point 7? None of our TAs are on grade 7.

This is great, thanks so much! I will be reading all these while I’m sat outside the school in the car!

Thing is, it definitely said Grade 7 as I googled it and it said HLTA. Then I just thought, oh they won’t call me then as I made it clear I haven’t even ever worked in a school before! I even said my experience is with my child and my friends children.

Thank goodness too !

such a huge coincidence that the school I work very part time ( job share ) in the after school club happens to be interviewing for a HLTA today !!!

Good Luck

re safe guarding - record ( i.e. write down ) whatever is disclosed to you asap - it keeps the details fresh in your mind, and of course report.
In our school it is to the headteacher, the safeguarding lead and to admin. All done through the CPOMS system.

A really important phrase to remember as regards safeguarding : it can happen here. It’s easy to be complacent & think the school you work in would never be touched by county lines, csa, neglect etc. It will be. You have to remain open minded & curious at all times.

If your child is at the school how will you deal with play dates & sleepovers if you become a TA there? Of course it’s doable, but they may ask you about these scenarios.

Thank you, I’m going to check out the process on their website tonight so I’m prepared and know the DSL. I will remember the writing it down asap in the child’s own words. Someone also mentioned it upthread so this will be fresh in my mind.

I might have my first ever redbull tomorrow so I’m totally awake🤣

Thanks you for all this. Totally understand the first bit re safeguarding, CSA and county lines(we have a prob with this) but what do you mean about the playdays/sleepovers? Why might that be a problem? I do have kids from the school for sleepover/play and some of my friends kids go there.

You asked what I meant about sleepovers/play dates.

I had a similar situation but with slightly older children. I decided that I had to maintain a clear boundary between working in a school attended by my children’s friends, & having those same friends in my home.

The compromise was that they could come for tea, get togethers, be in the garden, pop in and out if they were doing something locally, but no sleepovers. It’s hard to be ‘Miss’ at school with a child you meet on the landing at midnight in your nightdress!

It’s not a problem, it just struck me when you said your dc was at the school.

@NeverOneBiscuit Yes actually I can see that. I don’t actually like sleepovers, I do it for my it would be easy for me to drop those!