Teaching Assistant interview

[Job123455666]

I have a job interview for a 1 to1 primary teaching assistant and I’m sooo nervous about it I’m absolutely dreading it. Ive been a stay at home mum for 3 years now and lost my confidence completely. I’ve never worked in a school but I’ve worked with children in care and in a nursery. I’m terrible at interviews and forget everything I’ve wrote down while prepping. They said questions will be about safeguarding and promoting welfare of children, also clarification on the info provided on my application form.

I’m reading up on EYFS again , learning disabilities and challenging behaviour to refresh my mind also reading the schools policies. Anything else I can do? Any TA’s have an idea on what the questions will be ?
I feel like I won’t get the job anyway due to my poor GCSES. But I’ve been shortlisted so I must of done the application form well so I will take that as a positive.

thank you x

No advice as such but wanted to say good luck, you'll be fine!

Just safeguarding, prevent, policies. What would you do if...?

The OU have a free course for TAs and a couple on autism, they are short and won't take you long.
Safeguarding questions pretty much always follow the same format. Don't say you'll keep any disclosure secret, report to the Safeguarding lead or straight to police following the school policy. Perhaps look up Prevent if you aren't familiar with it.

End questions I ask "What have you found the most enjoyable/frustrating about working here?" this gives you an insight into the culture of the place and gives the interviewers chance to waffle on whilst you take a breather and "Are there any other questions you'd like to ask me?" because often interviews are scripted and this means they can follow up with questions targeted to you.

Thank you so much these replies were really helpful, I had my interview and it was the best one I’ve ever had so I’m proud of myself for once. The interviewer was so nice and said I had answered with everything he wanted to hear , I also got a tour of the school. Just nervously waiting to see if I got the position now.

Oooh! Keep us updated! Whatever the outcome, you've had a positive experience and held your own.

Thank you so much! I got the job ! Can’t believe it. It’s so silly but I feel like a fraud I just don’t know how I managed it ! I have to attend a PD day soon even though I’ve not started yet, now the nerves are kicking in again. I have no clue what goes on at PD days?! Or what to wear 🙈

Really hoping I don’t have to speak about myself in front of a large group or anything - can you tell I’m worried 🙈

Congratulations. When I read your op I thought they'd snap you up.

I've never had to speak toprr than people I have been sitting on a table with.

People wear what they want on these days.

Congratulations!

Does PD stand for Personal Development? I have no idea and I work in a school. If the kids aren't there you can probably dress casually. Email and ask the content /format of the day if you want to know.

Congratulations.

I got a job as a TA after years of not working many moons ago. Best thing I ever did. I loved working in schools. You will find it does wonders for your confidence and you’ll be a new person in no time!
Congratulations!

PD day is probably inset.
Jeans are fine for inset at my school. Newbies often seem to go for dark jeans and a shirt as middle ground. The rest of us are normally in summer clothes.

At my secondary school our September inset day goes like this:

Staff room and get hot drinks and pastries and catch up with colleagues.
Then go to the main hall and pick up what feels like half a tree in photocopying of new school related legislation, last year we even got a goody bag of reusable cup and some stationery.
Head teacher welcomes everyone back, congratulates newly weds and births, introduces new staff - name and job role (+job background if a big wig), new staff members briefly stand up so we can put names to faces.
Go through GCSE results
Year plans and goals for the school. New initiatives, behaviour policies.
Break
Compulsory training Safeguarding, prevent training
Lunch
Ict training if using new systems
New staff go off for a school tour, to get sorted on ict systems, I'd card done etc
Old staff go for dept time.

@MerylSqueak Thank you that’s so kind ☺️

Thank you to everyone else for the congratulations 😊😊😊 and for the description of the day @Singleandproud that’s actually so helpful to have an idea of what will happen !! I will take a deep breathe and just force myself into it like I did with the interview. Hopefully they will expect me to be abit nervous being new, just wish I was more confident in social situations but I will do this!

Hi OP! How is the job going?