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Original poster

Pregnant teachers- going on day trip

108 replies

Gardenspades · 16/02/2025 11:21

We’re booked to go to a zoo 1 hour away when I’ll be 30 weeks. Is it fair to ask a colleague to swap me?

OP posts:
CurlewKate · 16/02/2025 17:08

@Gardenspades

I haven't read the whole thread, but I hope the consensus is that you should ask if anyone will swap with you. Obviously they are under no obligation to do it, but no harm in asking.

Parlezz · 16/02/2025 17:09

SLT need to be the ones to arrange alternative staffing.

Indianajet · 16/02/2025 17:14

I am amazed at how women can judge other women so harshly! I have been on many school day trips as a classroom assistant and they are exhausting! The zoo would be particularly difficult as there is so much walking.

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Rainingalldayonmyhead · 16/02/2025 17:14

Parlezz · 16/02/2025 17:06

Children aren't automatically entitled to trips out of school. It's usually good will on behalf of staff members who are given the authority to run them, but are not responsible for ensuring they take place, as these often go outside the school day and are genuinely a huge additional effort on top of what is actually a contractual responsibility.

Ultimately, leaders exempt from working time in STPCD are responsible if they want to offer extra curricular opportunities. This is why they must ask teaching staff and accept reasonable adjustments required for a pregnancy risk assessment.

Show quote history

So teachers by choice. Otherwise leadership team. I only ever see teachers on school trips which for my kids (except for residentials) were in school hours. There are also many parent volunteers who support the trips. And yes there are some teachers who seem to be responsible for example for the sports trips (during school hours) or the PE teachers.

I am reliably told that the trips for my kids school are organised and planned by the leadership team and office staff so shouldn’t be extra for teachers (who are overworked as it is) and being in school hours shouldn’t be a problem.

Kids aren’t entitled as you have said but it is ‘required’ by Ofsted to ensure a good rating to show round ones etc.

This all misses the point. The post was about a pregnant teacher attending and she should just talk to the management team about this trip which as you have indicated is completely optional to her to attend so won’t be a problem at all.

Funnywonder · 16/02/2025 17:16

I think it's completely reasonable to ask. Perhaps you could ask someone if they could be on standby (if that's even possible) and see how you're doing closer to the time. I was completely fine at 30 weeks with my first. Just a bit tired. But I felt very unwell with my second. I couldn't eat properly and had horrendous nausea and acid reflux right up until I gave birth. I could do normal everyday stuff, but a trip to the zoo would have been impossible. Also, depends on the zoo. Ours is Belfast Zoo which is on the slopes of Cavehill. Not for the faint hearted at the best of times😬

neleh87 · 16/02/2025 17:18

I'm a teacher and this would be completely reasonable in my school. It's not like she's getting a free day off! She'd probably have to cover the other teacher's class.

Saying that, I'm 27 weeks and went on a school trip on Friday which included a lot of walking. I considered asking to swap but I thought I'd probably find the covering more tiring. Also, we had a 1:10 ratio so I had two other staff members with me. I made sure I went to the toilet when I needed to and did not do as much behaviour management on the coach as usual (the other staff handled anything that came up).

In short, I think it's a reasonable adjustment!

Mynewnameis · 16/02/2025 17:20

Bloody hek, what's with people today!
Definitely ask op

I could barely walk in my 3rd trimester

TwinkleLights24 · 16/02/2025 17:29

nahthatsnotforme · 16/02/2025 11:23

If you're not fit to do your job you could always start your mat leave

Wow.

Some miserable people on here today.

RaininSummer · 16/02/2025 17:39

Definitely not unreasonable to ask and I imagine the journey will uncomfortable and the trip will be exhausting and hard on you.

Stardustmoon · 16/02/2025 17:44

Teacher here and wouldn't have made it round a zoo at 30 weeks. Have swapped for colleagues before and certainly wouldn't mind being asked to do so for a pregnant colleague. Most people enjoy a trip anyway! YANBU.

Allswellthatendswelll · 16/02/2025 17:46

TwinkleLights24 · 16/02/2025 17:29

Wow.

Some miserable people on here today.

Show quote history

Yeah totally agree. Do some people on mumsnet just have it in for teachers?

Onelifeonly · 16/02/2025 17:49

As a school manager, I'd be happy to let you swap. Is your head / line manager sympathetic? It could be regarded as a reasonable adjustment. I seem to remember one of our staff did this a couple of years back, when she was heavily pregnant.

surreygirl1987 · 16/02/2025 17:50

Gardenspades · 16/02/2025 11:21

We’re booked to go to a zoo 1 hour away when I’ll be 30 weeks. Is it fair to ask a colleague to swap me?

Depends how you are finding pregnancy, surely? I'm a teacher and went on trips in my third trimester (had one of my babies the day after term finished actually). But I had easy pregnancies and felt great. My teaching colleague, however, had terrible PGP and there's no way she could have managed a trip like that. It's not about being pregnant generally- there is no one size fits all - but about your personal needs. If you're struggling, obviously speak to your manager (not to another colleague to arrange a swap directly but a professional conversation about your needs and they can make arrangements for you not to go on the trip). If there is no issue, then don't.

ButIToldYouSoooo · 16/02/2025 17:51

Rainingalldayonmyhead · 16/02/2025 14:18

Is it? It is part of the job to go in extra curricular activities so not outside of job description.

Yes it’s unreasonable to ask someone to swap.

If you can’t do your job then you should speak to your manager not arrange to change with a colleague.

People get sick and things happen so this wouldn’t be highly unusual. Plus they have warning clearly.

This would possibly be strenuous but it’s not impossible. There are other adults there so it’s not 30 kids all on your own either. Your call.

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Please. Some pregnancies are harder than others in certain aspects and a swap would be perfectly sensible in such cases. So would a teacher struggling with mobility issues due to MS, cerebral palsy, long covid symptoms flaring up, a broken leg, etc. Accommodations are made all the time, as they should be. It doesn't mean they aren't up to teaching generally, it means a long trip off school grounds might not be feasible at times.

SouthLondonMum22 · 16/02/2025 17:51

If you are otherwise well, I think it would be fine. I'm assuming you'll have teaching assistants, parent helpers etc to help with ratios?

If ratios will be tricky and/or you are already struggling with pregnancy then I'd ask.

lovelydayIhave · 16/02/2025 17:52

Gardenspades · 16/02/2025 11:26

I think it’ll just be too much, there’s no resting. I know people go on day trips pregnant all the time but not with 30 kids!

But you'll be not alone there surely?

surreygirl1987 · 16/02/2025 17:53

lovelydayIhave · 16/02/2025 17:52

But you'll be not alone there surely?

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No way. She'd have colleagues/ helpers / volunteers etc with her

MyWisePumpkin · 16/02/2025 17:54

This reply has been deleted

This has been deleted by MNHQ for breaking our Talk Guidelines.

surreygirl1987 · 16/02/2025 17:57

ButIToldYouSoooo · 16/02/2025 17:51

Please. Some pregnancies are harder than others in certain aspects and a swap would be perfectly sensible in such cases. So would a teacher struggling with mobility issues due to MS, cerebral palsy, long covid symptoms flaring up, a broken leg, etc. Accommodations are made all the time, as they should be. It doesn't mean they aren't up to teaching generally, it means a long trip off school grounds might not be feasible at times.

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Yes I agree... but the OP hasn't said that she's having a tough pregnancy. Just a vague comment about there being 'no resting' on the trip. If she's struggling, obviously she should be exempt from the trip and special accommodations made. But being pregnant is not a blanket reason in general! I had a pregnant colleague (teacher) a while ago who refused to do pretty much anything at work because she was pregnant and it really wound everyone up! It depends on the OP's specific needs.

surreygirl1987 · 16/02/2025 17:57

This reply has been deleted

This has been deleted by MNHQ for breaking our Talk Guidelines.

Exactly this.

OhHellolittleone · 16/02/2025 18:11

Tell whoever wrote your risk assessment you won’t be able to manage it. It’s a reasonable adjustment that would not mean you need to be on mat leave. They will write it into your RA and state the risk will be mitigated by a swap / sending an additional person as well as you
so you can be based in a cafe etc. all these responses saying you should suck it up are wrong and ‘teacher bashing’

Rainingalldayonmyhead · 16/02/2025 19:25

ButIToldYouSoooo · 16/02/2025 17:51

Please. Some pregnancies are harder than others in certain aspects and a swap would be perfectly sensible in such cases. So would a teacher struggling with mobility issues due to MS, cerebral palsy, long covid symptoms flaring up, a broken leg, etc. Accommodations are made all the time, as they should be. It doesn't mean they aren't up to teaching generally, it means a long trip off school grounds might not be feasible at times.

Show quote history

Yeah that’s what I said basically. Please.

Maddy70 · 16/02/2025 19:27

Actually the risk assessment may exclude you from a trio touching animals (if they have a petting zoo).

ArseInTheCoOpWindow · 16/02/2025 19:30

Rainingalldayonmyhead · 16/02/2025 17:14

So teachers by choice. Otherwise leadership team. I only ever see teachers on school trips which for my kids (except for residentials) were in school hours. There are also many parent volunteers who support the trips. And yes there are some teachers who seem to be responsible for example for the sports trips (during school hours) or the PE teachers.

I am reliably told that the trips for my kids school are organised and planned by the leadership team and office staff so shouldn’t be extra for teachers (who are overworked as it is) and being in school hours shouldn’t be a problem.

Kids aren’t entitled as you have said but it is ‘required’ by Ofsted to ensure a good rating to show round ones etc.

This all misses the point. The post was about a pregnant teacher attending and she should just talk to the management team about this trip which as you have indicated is completely optional to her to attend so won’t be a problem at all.

Show quote history

When l was teaching no fucking SLT would get their hands dirty organising trips. That’s was left to the poor bloody infantry who gave up all their free time too.

RamsayBoltonsConscience · 16/02/2025 19:34

You should have a risk assessment and I should think it would say on there that you would need to swap with someone else as this would be very tiring.

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