How to prepare for your nursery interview

As there is an increasing number of employment opportunities within nursery, there are more people receiving interviews. We want to make sure you are as prepared as you can be ahead of the big day, so we have created the following tips to help you prepare for your interview.

Research the Nursery Have a look at the nurseries website to get an understanding of the place before you go. Some nurseries have values, an Ofsted rating or something which makes them unique. By mentioning these as part of your answers it helps demonstrate you are the right fit for the role.

Gather your documents Prepare in advance of the interview to make sure you have everything you need. Take a copy of your CV, qualifications, and current safeguarding training. To help you start work quicker, apply for a DBS and have it placed on the update service. There is an initial cost but long term it will mean you don’t need to wait for the nursery to process one before you can start, allowing you to earn more quickly.

Prepare your referees by asking them to look out for a request so they can return it quickly. Sometimes people can’t start work until all the relevant documents are on file and the references can slow the process of you receiving work.

Dress smartly Wear smart clothes and look professional. You may be asked to take part in a session to see how well you interact. Bear this in mind when thinking about what to wear.

Question and answers Think about the questions you might be asked and mentally prepare the types of responses you could use. Its good to have one or two questions you can ask at the end.

Go into detail about your skills and experience and how they will benefit the nursery. You may be asked about what you would do in certain situations so have a think about the different safeguarding scenarios and the correct processes to follow. You could ask the following: