Teaching assistant advice!

[Aromaticmist]

I have an interview next week for a TA role - something I've never done before. I was fully prepared to have a face to face interview, but I've been told part of my interview will be a classroom with KS1 pupils. I am looking forward to it but I'm being thrown totally in the deep end here as I've no idea what to expect, or even what will be expected of me! Can anyone in the profession help please, maybe some advice on what to expect? Thank you in advance

What made you apply for the role?

What experience have you got around children?

Down to their level, interact well, ask the kids open ended questions. Probably helping with some written work/maths. Maybe helping someone with their reading.

Be bubbly, chatty, get down on their level and ask questions about what they're doing ....show that you're supporting their learning. Being a TA they will mostly want to see that you're a bubbly interact person x

I've interviewed candidates for such a role before. If you've made it to interview stage, you must have something significant to offer (experience with kids in a voluntary role, training, a particular skill that the teaching staff might lack such as music, foreign languages, advanced first aid or gym coach etc). Certainly use this to your advantage and mention it in the interview and what you will bring to the school.
They will be looking at how well you interact with the kids and your understanding of this age group. You are not expected to 'teach' but may have to help with reading, phonics, numeracy etc. It would be a good idea if you're not familiar with this age to read up about their curriculum (should be on the school website), just to give you a bit of background. Make sure you know how old this age group is - we were interviewing a TA for YEAR 5 and they thought they'd be working with 5 YEAR OLDS.
Good luck!

Thank you for your replies!
I actually have zero experience in a teaching setting, I work in the kitchen currently. The application was received very well, it was "beautifully written" so I can only imagine it was what I put forward in my cover letter and personal statement which bagged me the interview!
I'm so chuffed honestly, but very daunted by the whole prospect of the interview process. I guess I can only try my best with the interaction, the deputy seemed to think I'd be more than capable so if she has faith then I suppose I have something they're looking for

Either that or your cooking is terrible

Yeah I didn't think of that

Just be really enthusiastic, smiley, interact with the kids etc. Good luck!

I observe people interacting with nursery children as part of their working interview
I look for people who get down to the children’s level, have a calm and kind manner with them, that can answer questions from children when needed and deflect when needed, that use appropriate language, have a sense of humour and treat children as individuals, and who ask questions of the adults
For example I once observed one person who allowed several children to climb and stand on the sofa on which she was sitting, she didn’t seem to notice, made no effort to get them to get down or ask the adults if the children were ok climbing on the sofa
She didn’t get the job 🤣
Good luck

just testing (have had problems sending a post)

volunteer experience in secondary schools - Omnicron covid variant -
Jan 22
hi, is it possible to gain volunteer experience due to Omnicron please? have tried to look this up, little unclear, thanks
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