Any pregnant teachers?

[MrsPan]

I’ve been signed off since 28 weeks with bad SPD. I have to use crutches... it’s been extremely painful. I’ve been ridiculously stressed about having to be signed off (I’m 32 weeks now).

This is my 4th pregnancy in 3 years, one living rainbow and pg with a rainbow. I’m very lucky to have a rainbow. I’ve found pregnancy a very anxious time and I know I have struggled with my mental health throughout pregnancy.

Today I saw the GP. I really want to return for the last 2 week of term, so far I have set all my cover, marked all books and assessments whilst off, sorted out lessons, reports etc as I am able to and don’t want to add extra work load to colleagues. However this is now causing me stress as I can really see my GCSE groups need help. I am physically unable to work a full timetable. The only way I could return is for 2 weeks just teaching year 10 and 11 and then being able to go home and rest. GP agreed this would be a good balance for my physical/mental health as being home a lot makes me over think emails, worry about what people think of me, panic about things that could go wrong in pg etc!!!!

Anyway, school have said they need to discuss with SLT and today HR has emailed and explained that if I don’t return then I will need to start mat leave at 36 weeks (which I knew and happens to be in the holidays).

BUT can they make my mat leave start at 36 weeks if I was working a reduced timetable before hand? GP has written on my sick note ‘patient hopes to return on reduced working hours and amended duties’ ... can they refuse me returning for just my GCSE groups?

I’ve just spent the day stressing about this!

I think you need to call your union Rep and get some specific advice.

I agree, you need to call your union. Have you been in contact with them since being off sick? And I’m shocked how much work you’ve been doing and think it’s disgraceful of your school to let this happen (even if you volunteered). Please don’t feel bad for being ill.

I would definately talk to your union they'll be able to give you more specific advice.
I would think that if you're putting in some hours of teaching then they can't start your maternity leave early. I remember reading something as part of the pregnancy discrimination act that an employer must make reasonable adjustments to duties at work and I would class having spd which causes you to be on crutches enough of a reason to adjust your duties to protect the health of you and your baby.

I would think that if you go back on a reduced timetable, then your maternity leave wouldn’t kick in early. However, you’d be working part-time - wouldn’t that affect your maternity pay? Also, the employer might not be able to accommodate you if they’ve already employed someone to teach your classes.

Other than that, you have every right to be off and need to work on your feelings of guilt - your mental state is clearly suffering and it would be good to address that end focus on enjoying the last weeks of pregnancy and the baby when it arrives.

Also, it’s the school’s job to ensure there’s appropriate cover so just try to let go or see if you can get some counselling to help you put things in perspective.

I'm also a teacher so I sympathise. I don't know about the specifics of triggering maternity leave in your case and I echo the suggestions to contact your union rep for advice.

However - I think you have to be realistic. You have a debilitating physical condition and you are experiencing high levels of stress and anxiety. I know that this is difficult but to be blunt I think you need to let go a bit. You are not the only person who can teach your KS4 classes and it would be better for them if the school were able to get your maternity cover in now and give them maximum continuity up to their exams, rather than the disruption of you arriving and then disappearing again.

Good luck

Thanks for all your suggestions. My mat cover can’t start until January.
I’ve wanted to do the extra work- it’s not like I’ve not been able to and I know how stressful it can be for colleagues who are already very busy.

Going back on a reduced timetable shouldn’t affect my pay on mat leave as I think it comes under the conditions of returning to work after sickness- phased return, but I better check as if it did i certainly wouldn’t be returning!

I think my anxiety would be reduced by working as I don’t feel like I would have a proper start to my mat leave otherwise. I shall see what HR come back to me with.... I’d just like to know either way!

OK. Don't be surprised if they don't go for it. You would be asking them to pay twice for you, as they'll need to pay for cover for your other classes as well as your salary for KS4.

Perhaps you could trigger your mat leave and take a couple of KIT days to do a proper handover on your classes.

@HaHaHmm they wouldn't be paying any more than they are now though, surely? They'd be paying OP whilst signed off and paying whoever is covering the classes in school? Can't see how anyone would be getting paid more if she is in the building rather than at home?

Quite possibly, Aye, although it depends on OP's sick leave entitlement.

I think you are within your rights to request the reduced timetable but I feel very strongly that if they refuse you should stay off sick and stop working so much for them while you are off. I understand it's hard, I am worried about leaving my yr11 classes but ultimately there will be a teacher in front of them and it is up to them whether they want to work and learn and achieve a good grade or whether they want to mess about and misbehave! Once the babies are here we won't have time to give it a second thought anyway!

They don’t pay twice for me- it costs them no more for me to come back on a reduced t/t or to stay off. I think I’m a bit confused as I just thought if GP recommends something they are supposed to accommodate- plus I’m doing it to support the school as well as for what I see as being good for my health too.
However if they refuse and I have to stay off I think I need to back away to stop myself stressing about it. I’m hoping I get a response today so I can draw a line under it.

They don’t pay twice for me- it costs them no more for me to come back on a reduced t/t or to stay off

No, it does cost them. Schools have insurance that pays out if staff are off sick so that it covers the staff wages and the cover wages. If you're back the insurance doesn't pay out and school will have to pay both out of their budget.

They are going to have to conduct a full risk assessment to decide whether you can return to work safely. If you were to have an accident at work then they would be liable.

They don't have to accommodate the GP's recommendation if they don't feel that they can provide the adaptations that you will need to do your job safely.