Advice for a Teaching Assistant interview and Year 1 maths activity

[JLS13]

Hiya,

I’ve applied for a job as a Teaching Assistant within a first school (Reception-Year4). I have been offered an interview tomorrow and am so nervous!

I have 14 years Clinical NHS experience but none of working in a school. I fit the essential and desirable criteria of the JD but I’m really worried about the interview itself.

They have asked me to to plan prepare and delivery a maths activity to 6 year 1s. Then after the task with be the formal interview.

Has anyone done this sort of interview before?

What sort of questions were you asked? (This is my biggest worry)

What observation task is best for 5/6year olds?

It’s all very new to me, I have left the NHS, would love to work in a school plus the term time is what’s very appealing as I have 2 children myself 12 & 9.

Any help and advice to get me through this would be amazing please :)

I would do a number bonds exercise. I’d sing a song…
Zero and 10, a big fat hen
One and 9, we’re just fine, etc

You can make up whatever bonds you like. Get class to make up actions.

It finishes up… 10 and zero - Superhero!

Then give children 10 cubes, and get them to make and record number bonds on whiteboards. Praise for systematic approach. Ask about patterns children can see.

Can you find out roughly what level they are at as a starting point. I’d then scour the school website as most have some sort of curriculum topic info - and I’d choose from there.