When it comes to special educational needs (SEN) Teaching Assistant roles, interview preparation is paramount. The interview stage is crucial as it gives you the opportunity to showcase your capabilities and demonstrate how you can make a positive impact. So, let's delve into the top 7 SEN Teaching Assistant interview questions that you might come across, along with some guidance on how to approach them.

Please note that this article is just a guide and should be used as such! The actual questions you encounter may vary.

Demonstrating Your Experience

Question 1: What special educational needs have you supported in the past?

This question is an opportunity for you to show your understanding of the SEN Teaching Assistant role and how you can contribute positively to the learning and development of students. Be specific about the needs you have supported.

Your response could highlight your knowledge of different classroom strategies, as well as your awareness of alternative communication methods and how they can be used to support non-verbal learners, but could also cover how you would respond, or have responded in the past, to specific situations. Eg. “when I have worked with students with autism in the past, I've been sure to demonstrate my patience and empathy in order to make students feel at ease and supported”.

Personal care

Question 2: Are you comfortable with personal care?

Personal care is a non-negotiable for most SEN schools, but can also be required in mainstream schools when an SEN TA is needed.

You can watch our full guide on personal care in SEN here:

Managing Distress

Question 3: How would you assist a child displaying signs of distress?

Here, it's crucial to demonstrate your empathy and your understanding of different strategies to comfort and reassure a distressed child.

Handling Unexpected Behaviours

Question 4: What de-escalation methods could you employ to manage unexpected behaviours?

Your answer should reflect your knowledge of behaviour management strategies and your ability to apply them effectively in a classroom setting.

You can find a full guide on managing unexpected behaviours here:

Maintaining Focus in the Classroom

Question 5: How would you engage a child who is having trouble concentrating?

This question allows you to show your creativity and your understanding of different learning styles and techniques to engage students.

Looking Ahead

Question 6: Where do you envision yourself in 5 years' time?

This question is designed to gauge your commitment to the role and the profession. It also provides an insight into your career aspirations. To make your journey towards becoming an SEN Teaching Assistant smoother, make sure to check out our SEN TA Interview Tips and What Makes a Great Teaching Assistant articles.

Remember, preparation is key to a successful interview. Understand the role, know your strengths, and be ready to discuss how you can contribute to the school and the learners you support. Good luck!

Understanding Safeguarding

Question 7: If a student or a colleague raises a safeguarding concern to you, how would you handle the situation?

Safeguarding is a critical aspect of your role as an SEN Teaching Assistant. You're expected to understand the Keeping Children Safe in Education guidance guidance issued by the Department for Education and know how to apply it in real-life scenarios.

This question is designed to assess your judgement and understanding of confidentiality, but also your knowledge of the correct way to communicate safeguarding concerns. Showing that you respect confidentiality is vital, but it's equally important to recognise when information needs to be shared with the appropriate people to ensure a child's safety.

When a parent or colleague is involved, your response should emphasise your ability to act responsibly and professionally, prioritising the welfare of the child.

SEN Teaching Assistant Interview Tasks

In some cases, schools will set tasks as part of the SEN teaching assistant interview. They may request to observe your interactions with students and your behaviour in the classroom. It's common for teachers to ask you to conduct a quick task for a small number of pupils, and they'll watch you implement it. You may also be asked to join in with a lesson, and will be observed on your interaction with the students.

Skills to showcase:

Time Management
Resilience under pressure
Ability to work to a deadline with a series of competing priorities
Knowledge of curriculum
Communication skills

Examples of SEN Teaching Assistant Interview Tasks

Example task #1 - In-Tray Exercise: Candidates are given a variety of communication tasks, such as emails, letters, or student concerns. They are then asked to prioritise the tasks & perform them in order. This could include a teacher memo (see below), a call from the school office, or a message from a parent.

Example task #2 - Memo from a class teacher: Candidates are given a memo from the class teacher and are asked to write a response with the actions they would take.

Example task #3 - Phone call from a parent: Candidates are given a scenario in which a parent has contacted the school, they are angry/upset/worried. Candidates are asked to respond with the actions they would take.

How Schools Will Score Tasks:

Interview tasks will be judged ultimately on the content and delivery. Here’s a handy guide to help you think about the best way to approach and deliver your responses. This is a hypothetical framework in which schools might review and judge the candidate responses.

Supporting Materials

Are the supporting materials relevant?
Are they used in the correct context?

Communications Skills

Are the responses articulated clearly?
Is the candidate engaging in their communication?
Does the candidate explain reasoning in an understandable way?
Does the candidate build rapport with the students/teachers/parents?

Personal Attributes

Is the candidate confident in their delivery of response?
Does the candidate inspire confidence in the students/teachers/parents?
Does the candidate show empathy, warmth, humour in the appropriate manner?

Content

Evidence of candidate conducting research or having strong knowledge of the topic/challenge
Are the responses logical and correct?
Does the candidate take into account the personal context & wider situation?
Does the candidate consider the ultimate outcomes of their decisions?

"Every child deserves a champion – an adult who will never give up on them, who understands the power of connection and insists that they become the best they can possibly be." – Rita Pierson