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Interview At An Sld/pmld School


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Hi everyone,

Just found out I've got an interview on Thursday at an SLD/PMLD school. Can ayone give me any hints or tips for my interview as this is my 1st one in special ed.

Anything would be useful. Thankyou

 

 

Nich

xx

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Congratulations on getting through to the interview stage. :D

 

No experience of this but I would think that the basics are the same as any other interview position. Additionally prepare for "selling" your specialist qualities that you would bring to the school.

 

Good luck.

 

 

Peggy

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Hi Nich

SEN job interviews are very similar to any other interview. Heres a few suggestions and tips that have been useful to me when I've been on interviews.

 

what are your strengths and weaknesses (strengths - patience, a sense of humour and ability to be kind but firm are always a bonus - thnk about what you are good at eg creative,, good at IT etc - weaknesses are always much harder but we all have them so try and think of a couple)

What qualities do you think you could bring to the job - give examples if possible

Give examples of how you have solved a range of problems

How would you deal with difficult behaviour (check on schools policy, involve other members of staff, talk to parents etc)

Think about what training you have done and what you would like to do - is there an area you would like to specialise in eventually?

Be yourself

Be friendly and relaxed but not over familiar

Believe in yourself that you can do the job

Read and reread the job description and any other info so you are familiar with what they are expecting and think about how you could implement some of the tasks

Be prepared to visit the school if you haven't already done so

 

Thats all I can think of at the moment - hope it helps - Good Luck

Jo

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Thanks everyone. I went to look around today and really liked what I saw. I've been told there's me and 1 other woman going for the job, so I've got a 50/50 chance of getting it!! THe head just said to sell myself on Thursday, be myself as they are looking more at personality than previous SEN experience.

Fingers crossed and I shall keep you posted!

Nich

xx

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Well I've just got back from the interview and I feel it went well. They said they'd let me know sometime before the end of the school day, so just depends how quickly they make their decision as there were 2 of us and they'd already interviewed the other candidate before me.

Fingers crossed everyone!

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  • 3 weeks later...

O0o0o, ok, better get my thinking hat on!

 

The one question that I really remember was the one that was different to any I've been asked before, which is 'What would you be if you couldn't be a teacher!' That was a good one, but I guess it would stump some people.

They also asked me about working in a team, what my personality is like and what that would bring to the school, what were my specialist areas, what do I think I need to work on professionaly, how could you differentiate a lesson to suit the needs of the children (I told them that I couldn't really say as I don't have actual teaching experience with the kinds of kids in class but I would work from their IEPs and differentiate accordingly!) and also, why did I want to go and work in Special Ed.

Think that's it.

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I wasn't sure if the money was for me personally or money to be spend on resources for the classroom. So I asked and was told it didn't matter. I said I thought I would get the sack if I spent school money on a new car -so it did matter. So I decided to play safe and said I would think very carefully and establish what was needed first. I got the job and later met the person again and asked her why she had asked the question and she had just wanted to see how I would respond to something unexpected. In the same interview I also gave her information about adult tap dancing lessons! It's a mad world.

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It certainly is! I'm just panicing now that I know nothing and I've not a clue what to do for my topic. It's 'My Family' so not the easiest of topics! I know they said that I'll just be getting used to the kids and that, but I feel I need some ideas for the my family bit and some ideas of local visits too as they do lots of them.

 

The scariest thing they told me after the interview is that I could if I want take the LEA Minibus test so I could drive the minibus! NO WAY! Was my answer to that! I'm confident enough to drive my own car. I wouldn't want the responsibility to drive that!

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Nichola - have you met the children yet. What sort of SEN do they have and what level of ability - are they working at P levels.

 

Don't worry about the mini bus I am sure there is someone else in the school who can drive it for you.

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My children are a mixture of SLD and PMLD and are working between P1 and P6 at best (average about P3 or 4). They have a variety of SENs including Cerebral Palsy (spastic and ataxic) Downs Syndrome, Rett's Syndrome, hearing and visual impairements. I've met 2 of my class and they are lovely girls, one of which is really motivated by shiny things and music, so that makes me and her a perfect match!

Any stories have to be sensory stories as that is the level that many of mine are working on and one of them only has vision of 1m.

The head and deputy said don't worry about planning, just go with the flow and use your TAs knowledge but just try and jot down a few ideas to go in with!

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I expect you will need to use some signing with them do you know which system the school uses. Learn some simple vocabulary.

I wonder if the parents would send in photographs of the family members. If not maybe school will allow you to buy some disposable cameras you can send home. You could use the photos to make a family mobile or make each child a photo album we always make one for the special needs children we work with we include photos of school staff as well and regular visitors who have an input with the children such as physio and speech therapy staff.

 

Stories:-

Titch

The tiger who came to tea

Goldilocks

 

Role play :- Three bears house.

 

 

I am trying to think of some songs / rhymes but my mind is blank at the moment.

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