Rejected for a job from my child’s school

[Girlymiddleagedmum]

Bit of a curious one and I wondered if anyone else has had a similar experience. I’m a trained primary teacher and I’ve been working as a supply TA since June 2025 across a few local schools. I’ve had good feedback everywhere I’ve been, especially around SEND support. I’ve also done quite a bit of CPD on neurodiversity (autism, ADHD, inclusive practice etc.), and I volunteer at my daughter’s school for forest school too. So I’m known and have good relationships with them. On the PTA. I also work as an exam invigilator at the local high school.
There were three LSA roles advertised at my daughter’s school recently and didn’t get shortlisted for any of them. The feedback I got was very generic — nothing specific or useful. A good friend of mine, who’s an ex‑teacher and SENCO, helped me with my statement and she was genuinely shocked I didn’t even get an interview.
A few people have said it might be because I’m a parent at the school and they don’t want any more parents working there — they already have two. No idea if that’s true, but it does seem to be something people mention.
Just wondering if anyone else has found their child’s school harder to get into job‑wise than other schools. Is it just one of those things?

Not getting a job in your child’s school.

It isn’t difficult to understand the OP.

No, not getting a job in their child’s school.

Meant to say other have said it Not a great idea working in your own kids school. Typo

The last time I advertised an LSA role I had 120 applicants in one week! Considering how awful the pay and conditions are the job seems very popular!

It was one advent for 3 positions. In a small town. So obviously made me feel quite deflated. But I know my experience isn’t extensive and my cv has gaps. But sometimes these types of jobs go to less experienced people just because of who they know.
Ok all I did was come on here to see if anyone had similar experience or ideas which might help me feel a bit better. Again mums supporting other mums.

i work in HR in schools so ‘see’ it from the other side. It may be that there was nothing wrong with your application (or you), but there may have been other factors eg

there just could have been candidates with more relevant experience. Supply TA work since June isn’t really a long period of time in the grand scheme of things. Other applicants may have had more experience eg working with multiple key stage groups, specialist training like Makaton, ELSA, paediatric first aid, diabetes training etc.

the school may not like parents working in the school. We’ve had our fingers burnt a few times with parents finding it difficult to have the right boundaries between their role as a staff member whilst being a parent. it’s really isn’t easy.

they may have a pupil with particular needs and already have a staff member who works best with them and want them for the role.

they could have an ECT starting in September and need a really strong, experienced TA.

Applying for jobs is a numbers game, so keep up at it and your perfect job is out there for you.

Just a word of caution. There was a mini baby boom that peaked around 10-15 years ago. Primary schools were full and local authorities added places/bulge classes. That’s long gone and now most schools in my local authority (large city) have surplus spaces. A lot of schools are making teachers redundant. Teachers who leave the profession might find it tough to return as there isn’t the demand there was even ten years ago, and budget pressures mean that teachers at the top of the pay scale struggle to find jobs because schools can only afford cheaper, less experienced teachers.

I think some teachers do it to work in the same environment with less pressure. It's a sad indictment of schools today that they are prepared to accept a big pay cut to do it.

I was a mature student and when I qualified as a teacher the HT at my daughter's school offered me a job. When I moved jobs (different part of the country) she came with me and it was fine.

Seriously?

If our Junior School didn't employ parents they'd be massively understaffed from the HT to the dinner ladies.
The TA job still went to to the HT's wife's best friend, also a parent.

We regularly have to recruit TAs. One thing we consider is possible dynamic with the class teacher (that can often be more about the personality of the teacher than the candidate). If it is a 1:1 role, the possible dynamic with the child. We had one child who could only have a male TA because of his attitude towards women. One TA was recruited because she could also do sports coaching. Another thing is pay. It is a waste of time going through the process if the offer is turned down due to pay (this does sometimes happen even when the salary is advertised). The fact that you are on the PTA might go against you depending on what the parent body is like. The PTA members are often the stronger personalities and know a lot of the parents.

I would try not to take it personally. I'm surprised you didn't get an interview. You sound like a better candidate than most of the ones that we get applying.

Bit of a curious one

why is it “curious”? You didn’t get the job because another applicant was more impressive. It’s only curious if you know the successful applicant personally

We had terrible issues with an LSA who was a qualified teacher. She thought she knew better than the class teacher and caused all sorts of problems. If the school has experienced something similar it may well have made them wary.

I TA'd for years at a school where 3 of my 4 were pupils at the same time. I think out of the TA staff about 50% were parents of kids who were pupils.

No bullying. No problems. A village school where it was so normal for loads of the staff to be local and parents.

All schools have a different dynamic though.

It's disappointing though OP i can imagine. Do you know who did get the job? You will soon if you do volunteer work there.

I bet it turns out to be an internal promotion who got the job.

I suppose it depends on the situation. I can see it might be convenient, but, even assuming that it isn't likely to attract bullying in your child's case, is it really fair to deny your child the sphere of independence that school offers?

My mum had been all over my primary school like a rash, volunteering for this, that and the other, being a parent governor etc. and frankly it was stifling, I was really glad to get away from being known as xxxx's daughter at secondary school, and very thankful that she didn't succeed in her attempts to get a foot in the door there.

How could an lsa applying for an lsa job be more qualified than a teacher applying for the same job?

i agree it’s odd and possibly the child being at the school issue.

There is also the angle of you leaving soon to return to teaching so if that’s not likely I’d put that somewhere in the personal statement or covering letter.

Yes, teachers are way more qualified than an LSA. Teachers understand pedagogy, how to scaffold and plan for children with SEN.

They are different roles. LSAs carry out defined tasks as delegated by their teacher/year head/head teacher, depending on the school structure. It is actively unhelpful if an LSA takes a more leading role.

A qualified teacher will often find it difficult to carry out tasks if they feel they should be done differently.

I’m a Headteacher of a secondary school so I can give somewhat perspective.

I really much doubt it will be due to the fact that your DC are pupils at the school - but given that you are a qualified teacher, they probably see that you’re overqualified for the role perhaps?

Have you had a conversation with the Head as I’m guessing you know them from volunteering..

My child’s school seems to have brought in a policy for no parents. We still have two parent TAs. One is great, the other is a nightmare, her daughter tells on everyone but only to her mum who then acts as a protective, defensive mum whose daughter can do no wrong, not a TA. The other one is much more balanced and her daughter is encouraged to talk to other staff about day to day problems at school. My son can’t wait for the annoying one to leave in a few weeks! I’d assume it’s literally because you are a parents and it blurs the lines.