Teaching Assistant Interview Questions & Answers

What would you do if a child disclosed something safeguarding-related to you?

First, I'd stay calm and let the child talk without interrupting or asking leading questions, because I know I shouldn't promise to keep it a secret. I'd listen, reassure them they were right to tell someone, and only ask open prompts like 'can you tell me more about that?'. As soon as I could, I'd record exactly what was said in the child's own words, with the date and time, and report it straight to the Designated Safeguarding Lead — I wouldn't try to investigate myself. Safeguarding is everyone's responsibility, and my job is to listen, record, and pass it on to the right person quickly and accurately.

How would you support a child who is struggling to focus or behave?

I'd start by trying to understand the cause rather than just the behaviour — whether the work is too hard, they're tired, or something's going on at home. In a previous role I supported a Year 3 boy who kept disrupting carpet time, and I found he was struggling to see the board, so he'd disengage. I used quiet, consistent strategies: sitting him near the front, giving him a clear short task with a visual timer, and praising him specifically when he focused. I always stayed consistent with the school's behaviour policy so he knew what to expect. Within a few weeks he was settling much faster, and the key was being calm and consistent rather than reactive.