Got a job Interview - LSA 1:1, SEN, foundation

[mummyosaurus]

I am very, very excited, and pleased to be asked, but also very nervous, first interview in 6 1/2 years and in a totally different field (used to work in IT).

It's at a local school, 1:1 with a foundation child, who has special needs and I imagine (from person spec), physical disability (is that even the term I should use?).

I am after tips on interview questions that might come up. "Hot topics" I should know about before I go. And general advice.

I also have to do a 10 minute activity, the pressure is really on. I am going to look at this interview as "practise" - to calm my nerves, but I want to give my absolute best shot.

Thanks

Do a bit of research on Safeguarding.

Make sure you understand the different levels of support schools provide for children with SEN (School Action, School Action Plus, Statement of Special Educational Needs). Have a look at your local authority website - they should have a SEN / LDD section. Read through it and familiarise yourself with how it all works. It might be helpful to understand some of the terminology commonly used with SEN support.

Look up IEP. This is the 'plan' that the school will draw up (with parents usually) with targets for the child's achievement. You will undoubtedly need to know what is in the IEP if you get the job and will be following it closely, so you need to get across that you understand what an IEP is in theory.

Ask LOTS of questions. You want to know as much as possible about the child's disability, the details of their Statement (I assume the child has this if he/she has got one-to-one support).

They will probably be looking closesly at your personal attributes, as they know you haven't had SEN experience before (well done for getting an interview, btw!). They'll want to see empathy, warmth, n ability to respond to the child's needs while also encouraging them to become an independent learner.

Good luck!

Things I would also want to find out. Who plans the activities? If it is the teacher, is there time at the beginning of the day to discuss them and the learning objectives. If it is you, how much planning time are you given and when do you feedback to the teacher? When do you get a break? And who looks after the child then and at lunchtime?

Good luck!

Thank you both. That's really helpful.

I have got the local authority sen policy, so I will focus on those bits, esp IEP as I wasn't sure about that.

I'm going to do a list of questions to ask too.

Thank you again.

Just a quick update.

Interview went very well, I got over my nerves and they really put me at ease. I answered every question, and they loved that I knew what an IEP was!

This afternoon they rang me and gave me fantastic feedback, but gave the job to someone with experience! I will keep on trying.

Thanks for your help.