What questions are asked in a pre-primary teacher interview?
Common pre-primary teacher interview questions include: Why do you want to teach young children? How would you settle a crying child? How do you teach a letter sound? How do you manage a child who hits others? How do you communicate with parents? What is play-based learning? Schools usually also ask for a short demo activity such as a rhyme, story or game.
What this means in practice
Interviewers want to see warmth, clear thinking about safety and behaviour, and practical methods, not textbook definitions.
Questions to prepare
- Tell us about yourself and why early years
- Describe a typical day in your class
- How do you handle separation anxiety?
- How do you teach phonics or numbers through play?
- How do you deal with biting or hitting?
- How do you include a child with additional needs?
- How do you assess children without tests?
- What would you do if a child is injured?
Answer framework
Describe the situation, what you do step by step, why (child development) and how you involve parents.
Sample answer: settling a crying child
A strong answer might be: 'I would greet the child warmly by name and encourage the parent to say a short, cheerful goodbye. I would acknowledge the feeling, for example, "You miss Mummy; she will come after lunch", offer a comforting object or a simple job like feeding the fish, and gently involve the child in an interesting activity. I would send the parent a quick message once the child settled and plan a gradual settling-in routine for the next days.' This shows empathy, practical steps and parent partnership.
Practical next steps
- Write short answers to the questions above.
- Practise aloud.
- Prepare two demo activities.
- Bring your portfolio.
Common follow-up questions
How long is a demo lesson?
Usually 5 to 15 minutes.
What should I wear?
Smart, comfortable clothes you can sit on the floor in.
Sources
- NAEYC: Developmentally appropriate practice
- NCERT: National Curriculum Framework for Foundational Stage 2022
Course facts from APTTI's published course pages, checked 10 October 2026. Editorial policy.