Interview for Teaching Assistant in Reception clas

[alegre]

Last word should read 'class', just not enough space!

I'm a primary NQT who's been unable to find an induction post and I'm fed up with supply. There's not enough supply work and I'm desperate to get back into schools and work with children. It's what I love doing.

I applied for a position as a Teaching Assistant in a Reception class and I'd be really grateful if someone could give me an idea of what I might expect at the interview.

I'm brushing up on EYFS, child protection and Every Child Matters. Is there anything else I should be considering? What kind of questions might they ask? I'm just worried that I'll give answers from a teaching perspective rather than a support perspective and make it look like I'll be the one wanting to run the class. I'm more than happy to have someone else do the planning etc and I can support and learn from them.

I'm also in a quandary about what I should say if I'm asked where I see myself in 5 years time. The thing is I don't know! I don't want to make out that this might be some kind of stepping stone until I get a teaching post, it might be, it might not be. At the same time, I don't want to shoot myself in the foot - if a teaching post came up at the school and I thought I'd be capable I'd probably want to apply.

Sorry - I'm rambling now. I'm just all in a tizz. Got the call yesterday afternoon and interview on Tuesday morning. We're away this weekend and Monday is DS' birthday! I just feel there's so little time to prepare. Need to calm down.....

A few ideas:
Understanding of safeguarding is crucial
What would you do if a child disclosed to you?
How would you support the teacher in maintaining assessment profiles?
What would you do if a child's behaviour was causing concern? (do you know the school's behaviour policy? At least you could mention it?)
What do you see as your day to day role?
How could you support planning? e.g. feeding back pupils understanding and response to a task
How would you enhance the learning environment?

I would be honest about your position, as you have been here. Maybe some schools would be put off by it but not all. The fact is you are keen to forge a career in education and showing willing to do what it takes to get a foot on the ladder. Lots of TAs become teachers anyway.

good luck

Thanks very much hippytrippynamedropper

i'm a ta going the other way, or hoping to! scary news about the job situ op. It is someting that worries me quite a lot, tbh.

To be honest in reception the roles blur a little anyway.

That's interesting mrz. Why do you say the roles blur a little? Is it that the TA is more involved than perhaps in other years? I've not much experience of Reception - mainly KS2. When I've had Reception whilst doing supply I've not had a TA or at least not for very long (only done either morning or afternoon, not a whole day).

Yes, the safeguarding questions are really important. Also prepare for a question re behaviour management - think of some nightmare scenario and how you'd handle it. ECM is on its way out of the window so don't worry too much re that, but good you understand the principles. There might be a SEN question so think about your experience there.

Re the 5 years' time thing - be honest. Tell them you don't know but that you're committed to TA work for now. Talk about how TA experience will make you a better teacher when the time comes, etc.

Good luck :).

EYFS identifies the need for children to have Key people which for some children in some reception classes may be the TA. Staff in the early years work very much as a team so if my NN was working with a group and a child needed changing I as the teacher would do that... or if a child spilt paint I would clean it up. We shared information about the children's needs and achievement and planned together how to best provide for learning. I was very lucky to work with a degree level qualified NN/TA who was salaried rather than paid hourly.

Have you completed your nqt year?

I wouldn't go and be a ta- honestly failed teachers become tas.

Move to where there are jobs or work for free to complete nqt year, the ta salary is so low that you woukd be better working just 2 days a week as a teacher.

I think this is career suicide. You will settle and stay as a ta.

A HLTA salary is slightly higher than a NQT's here but I do agree that you risk losing your teaching status which you obviously have worked hard to gain if you fail to complete your NQT year

mrz I think your ta was v lucky to work with you! I am also a ta with a ba and have yet to meet a teacher who would wipe up paint! although i have worked with a co-operative team in the past wrt planning etc
one of the areas they will be concentrating on in my gtp interview is the role of a teacher, any views on that? age 3-7

Hi
Thanks for all the replies. Just having a quick look while at MIL's.

Changeisagoodthing - unfortunately I can't relocate, I have 2 primary aged children and the family relocated over 2 years ago due to husband's job. That was what our training provider advised once we'd finished the training. 'Yes, there are jobs but you need to be willing to relocate'. If I'd have known that I honestly don't know whether I'd have put myself and my family through such a hard year.

Also, our training provider was quite shocked at how many people this year did not obtain an induction post in comparison with other years. On TES as well, it seems to be quite general and across the country. I have friends in London who say it's been a difficult year there too. I don't think one could do NQT year for free - how would you do planning, assessment etc etc. and surely someone would contact a union to complain?

I completed training in July. Whilst on supply, I've had one good month and then 2 months earning £100, that's it. I go into schools and the school has had a TA or HLTA taking the class for half a day. Supply is dying.

I would dearly love to do my NQT year (even if it's just doing a maternity cover) but at the moment there are no/very few jobs advertised and when they are competition is stiff. At one school I was informed that there were over 145 applications for one teaching post. I know at one of my children's schools that a teacher doesn't know if she'll still have a job next September because of the cuts. I've been in a school recently where 2 teaching posts were made redundant in the last year.

I'm not earning and I feel I'm not keeping up my skills 'cos I'm not getting regular supply. It's got to the point where I've been applying for jobs outside teaching, even had an interview, but couldn't really summon up the enthusiasm. I had a career before teacher training but was unhappy.

It's not something I've considered lightly, I'm aware of the 'dangers' of going down TA route. However, I'm seeing it as an opportunity to learn new things, observe, gain experience and get a foot in the door at a school. I do think the experience would make me a better teacher.

Sorry - I could go on and on. I just feel very disappointed and let down by whole system. Aaargh - just feel so glum.

Ninah - yes, job situation is difficult. Out of a cohort of 20, about 10 got induction posts. 2 of those 10 had worked as TAs before training. I must say they found the training slightly easier than the rest of us (i.e. they had more ideas about how to get their teaching across, how to cope with behaviour..) and they did get jobs. Hopefully, that's a ray of hope for you.

Anyway, I'm in tears now when I should be looking as poss. interview questions and answers . Just fed up with it all.

I'm sure the school will see a TA who is a qualified teacher to be a benefit - very good value for them.

If they ask you where you want to be in 5 years time (not that I think they would) - just say a teacher, hopefully in this school :)

Ok. You need to find a school in the area where you can do unpaid work to get a good reference from a respected head teacher. Word of mouth and a decent reference is the key. Faced with 150 nqt applications those with a ht as reference who is recognised is a big plus (they call while shortlisting- yes dodgy but it happens).

Plus what are your applications like? Do you rewrite it for each job? Visit each school?

I have had nqt applications photocopied, with wrong school or ht name on, silly pictures and borders, rainbow font etc etc

alegre sorry to hear of this

Competition seems stiff for any job in a school - I've just been offered a role as a lunchtime supervisory assistant in my dc's school, other candidates had previous experience, I've been volunteering for a year and a half so already know the staff and have helped as much as I can, so I was lucky.

I know that my niece's friend has taken a job as an LSA after doing her PGCE (secondary) as there aren't many jobs in her area, it seems a good idea as you are gaining experience across the age range and you'll be better placed if a vacancy arises in the school. Good luck.

Will part of the selection process be reading a book/doing other activities with the children while you are being observed?

alegre I am so sorry to hear your experience, it must be so frustrating
fwiw i do love ta-ing, the job i do carries loads of responsibility, I am fairly autonomous and teach 3-4 y olds. It is poorly paid and without much progression. But poorly paid is better than not paid at all! I think if you decide this is the only possible route whereas it's a real pity that you have put so much in to train, you may still end up with a job you enjoy, and hopefully make some contacts?
no advice, just sympathy
good luck on tuesday!

Thanks for all your kind messages. Mumsnet is so wonderful at times!

Had the interview this morning. Just got a call to say that they've gone for someone with more direct experience of Reception. Fair enough.

On the positive side, Head pointed out that they use the same supply agency that I'm with and they might be interested in seeing me in another capacity. So, you never know.

Still, it was good interview practice. I'm more aware of where I need to brush up on my interview skills etc. so all good experience.