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TA interview next week- help please!!

5 replies

quickhide · 10/06/2012 09:10

I've got an interview next week for a TA job at the primary school DD will be starting at in Sept. I am ridiculously excited/nervous/surprised- I've never worked as a TA before and didn't really expect to get an interview.

I have a couple of questions that you might be able to help with...

-I didn't tell them specifically that DD would be at the school in Sept (though I did say she was starting reception, so as we live 5 mins from the school I imagine they will work it out!). Does it matter if I work in the same school that she goes to?
-Also, it says the interview will be 'an informal observation of a classroom, followed by a formal interview'. I take it that means they will be observing me in a classroom, right? The wording makes it sound like I will be the one observing.
-i haven't got masses of experience- I am on the committee at DD's preschool and have done a couple of stay and play sessions. I also volunteered one day a week in a primary school for a couple of months a few years ago as I was applying for a PGCE (in the end I got offered a place on the course but didn't take it for various reasons). With so little experience do I even have a chance of getting it? I hear TA jobs are v competitive.
-any interview tips?? By the way it is for level 1/level 2 (depending on experience)

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jubilee10 · 10/06/2012 09:16

Several TA's as ds's primary school have/have had children at the school so I doesn't seen to be a problem. Other than that I have no experience but good luck!

shrinkingnora · 10/06/2012 09:28

Just engage with the children and be friendly and smiley. Listen to what the teacher is telling the children - lots of a TA's job is translating instructions/reminding the children what they have been told. Check whether a child you are sitting with is right or left handed and sit on the appropriate side so you can actually see what they are writing eg no point sitting to the left of a left hander. If you got a PGCE place with that little experience you must be naturally very good!

Coconutty · 10/06/2012 09:34

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AbigailS · 10/06/2012 09:41

Well done on getting an interview. TA jobs can be like gold dust, especially if you have limited experience or relevant qualifications. Having your own child in the school shouldn't be a problem; many of our TAs do. Be ready for questions on how you would manage it. i.e. how you would respond if your child misbehaves or gets told off by the teacher in front of you, how you would deal with pupil fall outs involving your child and how you would respond to pupils' parents with your different "hats" on. Tell them you will explain your different roles to your DC and expect them to treat you more like staff than mummy in school.

You don't mention what year group the role is for so interview questions and expectations are very different. Wear something smart, but that the interviewer could envisage you actually doing the job in.

As far as the interview goes be ready to work with a group of children - be careful not to over direct them (this is something we find many parents and less experiences TAs do) and try not to do things for them, support them in doing it for themselves.

I suggest you look at the school's safeguarding / child protection policies. If they are not available without you going in to collect one try googling safeguarding policy primary school and your county to find one that would probably be similar. You will get interview questions about safeguarding and even if you don't know the answers if you have shown initiative and researched you would get mega brownie points from me. You will be given induction training including safeguarding, but when we ask "what do you know about safeguarding in schools and what your responsibility would be?" it can freeze some people.

You may be asked how flexible you can be regarding additional cover hours, school day trips, extra dinner time support if the TA hours are part time. Have you thought about child care? Our TAs start work 20 mins before the dorrs open and stay an additional 20 minutes after end of school. Who would care for your DC if that is the same at your school? It does really depend on the school's policy, but you can't really drop off in reception as the doors open and be ready to start your job at the start of the day as well. I really like it when candidates have already thought of that and have arrangements in place. same goes for additional meetings and training after school or on PD days. Also what about when your child is ill? We don't give unlimited leave to care for sick children as it impacts the care of the children in school.

Finally express an interest in additional training and qualifications, but don't voice you are planning on starting a PGCE next year (some did in my last set of interviews - why should we train someone who will be gone in a year?)

TAs do an amazing job and we couldn't function without you! Let your love of children and desire to help them shine through at the interview and show your own personality (it is so important as the role is so based on relationships). GOOD LUCK!

quickhide · 10/06/2012 09:57

Wow, thanks for the quick replies and great advice! Shrinkingnora, when I applied for the pgce the minimum experience needed was 2 weeks, so I spent one day a week in a classroom for 10 weeks and they agreed that was ok.

Coconutty/abigail, thanks for tips. They have a breakfast club at the school so I would put DD in there, as the job would start at 8.30. There are vacancies in foundation stage, KS1 and KS2 so I guess I will have to say which I would prefer. Tbh I would rather foundation stage, but as this would put me in DD1's class I am not sure it's a good idea. They do have 2 reception classes but it's all one open plan space.

I will look up school's policy on safeguarding etc. Have come across this with preschool committee eg we had a heated debate whether we should have a facebook page! Would that be the kind of thing to mention?

In the advert they specifically mentioned they wanted someone willing to be involved in the community/fundraising etc so I really focused on what I've done in the committee on my application, I guess that must have worked! I also have language skills and said I would be willing to help out with French/Spanish lessons.

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