Pregnant teacher

[Newmumtobe7654]

I am a secondary school teacher. I will be 30 weeks pregnant when the new term starts and I have been told that I will be going in and teaching a normal timetable. I read that shielding people will not have to from the 1st August and I feel fine that I will be going to work but I was just wondering if any pregnant women have been told what the plans are for them in the new academic year. Are you required to go in or still working from home?

Personally I would do everything I could not to go in and teach. See below. If you’re not ‘social distancing’ in your third trimester you’re at increased risk.

See below from the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists:
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“ The first report from this study included information about the outcomes of 427 pregnant women admitted to hospital with coronavirus and their babies during the pandemic...

The study found that the majority of women who did become severely ill were in their third trimester of pregnancy, emphasising the importance of social distancing from 28 weeks of pregnancy.”

www.rcog.org.uk/en/guidelines-research-services/guidelines/coronavirus-pregnancy/covid-19-virus-infection-and-pregnancy/

I am a primary teacher but I am on maternity now. We have 2 other teachers due in december. One has worked at home since march, the other has been in school tbroughout. They are both expected to have their class in september

Go to your union.

No different to any other job - from 29 weeks you can take maternity leave. If I refused to work I would be let go (I've worked throughout). I like everyone else is entitled to have my working environment assessed and given ppe as appropriate but I can't be paid not to work if the job exists (and mine does, I'm counted as a keyworker). Teachers are no different, the rules are if you cannot work from home you go to work.

I'd definitely ask for their risk assessment reflecting your higher risk in the third trimester and what measures they propose to reduce that risk.

The problem is I don't want to start my maternity really early as I am only taking 6 months off due to financial reasons. I spoke to the Headteacher and she said all staff are expected back, even those that are clinically vulnerable.

@Newmumtobe7654

The problem is I don't want to start my maternity really early as I am only taking 6 months off due to financial reasons. I spoke to the Headteacher and she said all staff are expected back, even those that are clinically vulnerable.

I would still ask how she proposes to ensure that you’re social distancing in your third trimester. Can you wear a mask and/or a visor?

What a pity that you've completely lost your sense of smell and taste...

Yeah, I'm shielding and have been advised to go back as normal after 1st August

It's really hard op because most jobs people would just work from home. I wouldn't go in but easy for me to say. Talk to your union, just for the facts.

@eatsfartsandleaves what do you mean?
@tatty101 are you a teacher? Have you been shielding because you are pregnant or for a health condition?

The guidance has always been that you don't need to shield in pregnancy unless you've got a heart condition. Your school should definitely be doing a risk assessment though to make sure you can strictly socially distance, as I think that's still the guidance for pregnancy.

It’s a difficult one OP but as far as I’m aware pregnancy isn’t in the highest level of vulnerable which would excuse you from going into work.

It does make you vulnerable and it is not ideal at all but it doesn’t make you eligible to remain at home on full pay whilst not working when everyone else goes back in September. If classes resume, you’re no longer able to ‘do it from home’ you’re either there or you are not.

I appreciate your finances make it feel unfair and non ideal to start your maternity leave early but I’m afraid Covid has been unfair on everyone. I gave birth right at the start and that felt incredibly unfair and shit.

You do have the option to start your mat leave early, you just don’t want to. Which is understandable but you’re essentially saying ‘I want to remain employed and on full pay but not actually do my full role like my colleagues because I’m pregnant’

I understand why you feel like you do but YABU it’s not your fault this happened, but it’s nobody else’s fault either!

If you are signed off I’ll then your maternity leave would start at 36 weeks.

@pumpertrumper I wasn't asking if I am being unreasonable!! My husband has been made redundant and have family who have lost their jobs, and a sister who gave birth, at the beginning of the pandemic so I am fully aware how rubbish it is for everyone! I am not saying I want to get full pay while I am just at home. I was asking if anyone is in a similar position as I was curious. For example, I know a teacher who doesn't have to go in but is doing admin work instead. No need for the judgmental post.

Have a look at this OP.
www.gov.uk/coronavirus-employee-risk-assessment

Thank you @soontobe60

What are the daily new cases on your local area right now, do you know? You might want to ask the school for their risk assessment and see if there's any adjustments of cases start to rise. Most areas are so low right now that your chance of having a child in your class pass out to you are vanishingly slim, but no reason you can't wear PPE if you need to talk to other teachers or admin staff. If you still aren't comfortable then you'll have to just take maternity leave early. Lots of people have to balance risk with their finances, it's ultimately your choice.

Maybe you could agree a threshold with the school that your comfortable with, e.g. that you'll go on immediate early maternity leave if new local cases go over say 30/week in your borough or if there are any confirmed cases in the school? You can look up stats here (local authority are a day behind in upload): coronavirus-staging.data.gov.uk/cases?areaType=overview&areaName=United Kingdom.

*you're not your comfortable, stupid phone.

Get signed off work, you're only pregnant for a short period in your working life, I am not convinced they could provide a risk assessment which allows you to effectively socially distance. Honestly, you need to do what is best for yourself and also your child, don't listen to those salty who are going to bleat on about they would lose their jobs if they didn't go in etc.

I think the fact they are now investigating the possibility the virus is airborne will have a big impact on how the schools return. It's been a side story so far but the implications are potentially massive. It may well be that PPE becomes a standard for all teachers and indeed students (as it is in many other countries) from September. Try not to worry but wait until mid August before you start to look at your options.

I'll be due in November and I'm planning to go on maternity at October half term. I work in higher education for a training provider training adults and apprentices who are training to be teaching assistants. As far as I'm aware I will be back as 'normal' in September unless guidance changes but we've been told it'll likely be in the office half the week and working from home half the week to accommodate for social distancing in our office. Our class sizes will be smaller but we will hopefully be teaching. Ask to see the risk assessment, take advice from your union but keep in mind that your employer could request you start your leave early

Oh also good advice from poster further up about going on the sick, didn't think of that. Just check the pay as I know during the first part of lockdown sick pay was massively reduced

If she gets signed off they can start her maternity leave early.