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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

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Original poster

Fellow pregnant teachers -how are you feeling about Coronavirus?

168 replies

mouse1234567 · 12/03/2020 19:46

Hi all,

Teacher here -26 weeks pregnant. Just wondering how everyone else is feeling about working in schools and the spread of coronavirus? I’m feeling quite vulnerable and although it’s great that kids don’t seem to suffer badly from Coronavirus -I feel a bit like Boris doesn’t really care too much about the staff who work at schools and may suffer more! I understand it would cause huge social disruption-but also find it frustrating when I’m hearing about others working from home!

Also interested to hear if you schools are taking any special measures?

All the best.

OP posts:

Hhdxx · 17/03/2020 08:05

Hello everyone.

After the advice yesterday, I am not going into work today until it is clearer what to do. I am about 7 and a half weeks. xx

lrb1 · 17/03/2020 08:27

I am 23 weeks pregnant, I have asthma and I do day to day supply in primary and SEN schools (often covering for sick teachers and working with vulnerable children). Feeling conflicted and stressed here- yesterday’s advice seems to suggest I should stay at home, but as an agency worker if I don’t go to work I won’t earn any money... I can’t survive for weeks on end without any money as I won’t be able to pay for bills or food. Really not sure what to do!
Any advice?

surreygirl1987 · 17/03/2020 13:30

I teach in an independent senior school and my dep head emailed me last night to tell me not to come in today as a precaution. He said he'd be in touch. Guidance is still so vague. I hope clearer guidance is released asap. We have so many pupils off qnd quite a lot of staff too.

mable88 · 17/03/2020 14:01

My head was brilliant yesterday, as soon as I showed her the latest guidance she told me not to come in. I queried if this would be sick pay and was told that because it’s a reasonable adjustment to do with my pregnancy, rather than me having to self isolate due to infection or symptoms, that I will continue to be on full pay and be classed as working from home rather than ‘off’. Letter gone home to parents today saying this too so I guess I’m definitely not back in any time soon! I think it’s only a matter of time until schools are shut anyway, but I feel really guilty not being in when all my colleagues are carrying on. Still, baby has to come first!

Hhdxx · 17/03/2020 14:30

@mable88 I don't know what's going to happen with my pay actually???

theseriousmoonlight · 17/03/2020 14:35

I emailed hr at school last night asking for advice. I got an email today from the head saying there us no guidance for pregnancy and covid but he understood my 'anxiety'. I don't know whether to laugh or get annoyed!

I've emailed back directing him to the guidance (which was actually linked on the page he sent to me which he claimed had no advice for pregnant women) so I'm waiting to hear back. I'm only part time but I'm happy to work from home, if yes teachers can do such a thing...

Hhdxx · 17/03/2020 15:06

@theseriousmoonlight I literally don't know what we have to do? Do we go to work or not?

morningworld · 17/03/2020 15:16

My work has asked me to speak to a doctor, spoke to one this PM and they said 'we can't tell you not to go in'. I am so stressed about it and don't want to go in!!!! What to do???? Also my son's nursery has had a couple of cases so want him out of there ASAP!

morningworld · 17/03/2020 15:20

Has anyone asked 111? This is what the GP suggested? I did think they'd be SO busy that I thought I'd check if anyone had before calling?

LatteLover12 · 17/03/2020 15:27

My HT sent me straight home this morning.

Advice from the NEU coronavirus page is:

What about pay and sick pay when absent from work?

School employees covered by the Burgundy Book (teachers) and Green Book (support staff) sick pay schemes are entitled to full pay for absence when they are required to be absent due to infectious illness and this absence does not count against sick pay entitlements."

JMreg · 17/03/2020 17:18

Hi all - glad I found this thread to know that others are in the same boat. Seems like a lot of us are feeling anxious. I'm 8 weeks and teach lower primary as a job share half the week and fixed supply the other days in different schools so I'm all over the place! I wasn't too worried until they put us in a high risk group. I didn't want to tell my HT as we've not even had our first scan or told our family yet but in light of the recent advice for pregnant women to socially distance themselves i decided to tell her today. I was told to wait for further guidelines and she quoted the current message that people are being told to work from home if the can but as we're teachers we can't really do that but we might be closed soon anyway - kind of wishing I hadn't even mentioned it now. Guess I'll have to wait and see what Friday brings...it's just so uncertain!

morningworld · 17/03/2020 17:43

@JMreg I feel the same, wish I hadn't mentioned it and then I could have called in sick from morning sickness.
I am going to send an email to the deputy now to say I'm not comfortable going in tomorrow. It's just not worth it when schools are closing end of this week/beginning of next. A lot of local schools are already closing down some year groups!
Stay safe ladies!!!!!

theseriousmoonlight · 17/03/2020 17:48

@Hhdxx HT has just sent whole school email saying advice from LA is that all pregnant staff or over 70 should work from home until further notice. I can't help but feel that if I hadn't queried his belief that no advice had been given for pregnant women, he would have asked me to go in... as it is, I'm now working from home. I expect that means planning and marking but haven't been told details.

theseriousmoonlight · 17/03/2020 17:50

Planning for cover long term is going to be a nightmare. But we don't seriously expect schools to be open next week do we?

surreygirl1987 · 18/03/2020 09:20

Weirdly at my school parents were told last night that pregnant women are working from home but my deputy head had told me that it's 'up to me'.

morningworld · 18/03/2020 19:17

So I assume that now schools are closing that we'll all get paid as normal??

lrb1 · 19/03/2020 07:49

Not supply teachers... :-(

morningworld · 19/03/2020 10:15

@lrb1 will you
Get SSP?

Catlover10 · 19/03/2020 10:19

Are teachers not still required to be in schools and nurseries to look after the key worker and vulnerable children? The news is confusing.

Prettylittlelady · 19/03/2020 11:23

I’m 10 weeks and I’m now working from home as advised by my head teacher, I’ll be planning and doing resources from home. It was early to share but I had to considering what’s going on.

lrb1 · 19/03/2020 15:48

@morningworld
No, the agencies say “temporary workers who select to self-isolate, but are fit to attend work, do not qualify for SSP or any payment”.

JMreg · 19/03/2020 16:09

@lrb1 worrying for supply. I'm based in Scotland and contacted the council to see what the deal is, they said we're not entitled to pay as we're not an employee of the council but on a 'needs only basis'..yet we're on the council payroll! Makes no sense. I've contacted the union for advice and they've said we should get paid until June, my reps speaking to HR about it so waiting for more info.

Original poster

mouse1234567 · 19/03/2020 19:00

Is anyone being asked to go in to help provide and skeleton structure for key workers? Or being asked to be in an isolated room on school property to do admin?

I’m hoping this won’t be something that will be suggested as I wouldn’t feel comfortable but I’m interested in what is happening at other schools?

OP posts:

Aaliah786 · 20/03/2020 17:36

Can I jump on this? I’m a HoD in a secondary school, currently 10 weeks pregnant and finding it quite hard to self isolate. My head has been brilliant and has told me not to come in for the next 12 weeks so very supportive but I feel like I’m letting the team down. Really worried about having to go in for my scan etc.

morningworld · 15/04/2020 20:55

Hello ladies,
How is everyone doing?
I know we don't know when schools will go back, probably June, but those of you that are not on maternity leave by then, what will you do? Will you to back to work or not? And if not how will we get paid?

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