Fellow pregnant teachers -how are you feeling about Coronavirus?

[mouse1234567]

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.

I was wondering this! We have the 'small school' of students in after Easter (vulnerable, key worker children) and my head has said I'm not to be on the rota for this. I am 28 weeks this weekend. I'm just wondering if schools officially head back, and everyone is in, will I be expected to go in or not?

I need to write my letter advising maternity leave this week, HR have advised that I should put my proposed date of when I wanted to leave IF school was open as normal. However considering it might not be normal, she has said if feasible I can say I would like to work up until the day of birth. I wonder if this would still be the case if we are back as normal and just I'm not in?

Currently 25 weeks and won't be going back before baby is born. My understanding is that we should be social distancing and this is even more important from 28 weeks. Maternity pay shouldn't start prematurely either as that would be discrimination for not attending work because of pregnancy, by following government advice. 😬

It's all a bit of a mess isn't it!
I'm definitely not on the rota for the vulnerable students but it's when the schools reopen.
In only 11 1/2 weeks at the moment so very unlikely I'll be in the third trimester by the time we go back!
I was thinking it also impacts on teachers that have underlying conditions or family members with underlying conditions. Will schools be able to even staff themselves??

This was posted on another thread by someone but is really interesting read and puts us in a strong position....

pregnantthenscrewed.com/covid-19/what-are-my-rights-during-covid-19/

This might be helpful too. There's also a 'what you need to know' section if you scroll down the page.

neu.org.uk/advice/coronavirus-pregnancy-and-maternity-faqs

My guess is that if schools do open before September it will be to fewer children / certain year groups and they'll still try to enforce some kind of social distancing (god knows how, I work with 4 and 5 year olds!)

So, because they wouldn't be saying 'it's totally safe, let's go back to normal' there would still be some people ( like us preggos) who would be told to stay at home.

I’m almost 26 weeks and won’t be returning before mat leave kicks in early July. Doubt the college will reopen before then, there’s not much point now exams have been cancelled.

I think just adopt a "wait and see" approach. The guidelines are always changing and schools are not reopening anytime soon. For choosing maternity leave dates I'm going to put EDD as mine and then if schools do open before then and I do have to be back as the guidance may have changed, I can always say I'm struggling and go early. I hope everyone is doing okay xx

I’m 31 weeks so as I’m in the later stages it’s not such a worry for me but I do feel for you guys in earlier pregnancy. Regarding the maternity -I believe our employer has the right to start it from 36 weeks if they wish-worth bearing in mind as I could see some schools doing this if we aren’t in and schools open up business as usual and they need to cover us. Not ideal as wanted to work quite late but at least it’s only four weeks.

On my maternity leave form you had to put the Sunday before your due date rather than due date -bit odd??

@mouse1234567 I know, I'm a bit unsure about that EDD and Sunday thing. I think if you want to start mat leave early it has to be on a Sunday or you can go to your DD?
Also, regarding the 4 weeks thing, I think they can only force you to leave early if it's a pregnancy related sickness. Not sure how covid19 fits in with that...

My Wife is a primary school teacher, and 20 weeks pregnant, her school have told her to not come in for 12 weeks which takes us to mid june.

I would suggest speaking to the head teacher and raising your concerns, people are being pretty reasonable at the moment and will hopefully let you off.

@mouse1234567 p.s. sorry! How are you getting on? 31 weeks, so exciting!!

Mat leave always starts on the Sunday before your EDD.

Your employer can only trigger your mat leave early (within 4 weeks of edd) if you are off work with pregnancy related sickness.

Following this thread, im currently 23 weeks pregnant and have been of work since the 16th Match. I work in a primary school in Nursery with children aged 3-4, im due my baby on the 15th August so i would start my Maternity when we break up in Summer (Mid July) my midwife game me my B1 form yesterday to hand into my employer - shall i do this is a normal? Slightly confused about what will happen next, will i return to work in June? After the 12 week of social distancing? Thank you. Hope you are all okay in this current situation x

Hi all, I’m only 11 weeks, so I’m definitely going to be going back at some point before my maternity starts. I’m still on a rota but our school is quite big (with almost 100 teaching staff) so I’m not required in until 26th June (if school is shut that long). This was my choice as I was at a stage (only 7 weeks when we went on lockdown) and only the head, HR and my line manager knew. So I was put quite far back on the rota so I have the chance to speak to my midwife and tell my colleagues. My worry is that I’m a HOD so at some point I will be required in to discuss year 11 exam results. Is anyone else in that situation? What are you doing about this?

I'm in NI and we have been told that all pregnant the teachers MUST stay at home. I'm 13 weeks, I do work from home though trough online learning etc but I'm not obligated to actually go into our hub school under any circumstances. I feel bad about it but my baby's safety comes first.

@Rainbow714 you should be able to start your maternity leave from your due date (or the day baby arrives if early). It’s one of the perks of an August baby. I’m due in mid September and will start my maternity leave on the day term starts as I did with my 1st DC who was also a September baby.

HI everyone, after the announcement that we'll be opening from June 1st, what is being asked of you all by your Heads?

Mine says she will try her best to look after me but will have to let me know when she hears back from HR/LA about numerous things.

The waiting is so stressful!

What have your Heads said?

I've been told I can possibly work from home until the end of the year but will have to attend handover meetings etc. Then in September if I don't go back (I'll be 34 weeks by then) she'll immediately start my maternity leave as I'll be choosing not to be in. I tried to explain that I do not know what will happen in September and I'll only follow the guidelines at the time. When I questioned that may leave can only be started by the employer 4 weeks before the due date she wouldn't accept it. Don't know where I'll stand if she tries it...

I have told to come back in from the 1 st June. I will be about 10 weeks then. x

I have been told (along with others in the 'vulnerable' category) to continue wfh for the forseeable.

@Ready4this Don't worry about September for now, the govt will have better advice by then.

This is the govt advice for anyone unsure: www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-implementing-protective-measures-in-education-and-childcare-settings/coronavirus-covid-19-implementing-protective-measures-in-education-and-childcare-settings#shielded-and-clinically-vulnerable-children-and-young-people

"Clinically vulnerable individuals who are at higher risk of severe illness (for example, people with some pre-existing conditions as set out in theStaying at home and away from others (social distancing) guidancehave been advised to take extra care in observing social distancing and should work from home where possible. Education and childcare settings should endeavour to support this, for example by asking staff to support remote education, carry out lesson planning or other roles which can be done from home. If clinically vulnerable (but not clinically extremely vulnerable) individuals cannot work from home, they should be offered the safest available on-site roles, staying 2 metres away from others wherever possible, although the individual may choose to take on a role that does not allow for this distance if they prefer to do so. If they have to spend time within 2 metres of other people, settings must carefully assess and discuss with them whether this involves an acceptable level of risk."

A thorough risk assessment needs to be done if you are being told to go back into school.

They’re definitely not allowed to force you to start maternity leave early in this situation .

I’m
Not due until Nov so won’t be starting Mat leave in Sept!

Those asked to go in, have you asked to see your risk assessment? Have they adjusted your role so it is ‘the safest in school, 2m away from others?

I’m still waiting to hear back from my head. Hate the waiting.

The Health and Safety at work regulations 1999 also say in section 16 that working conditions should be altered for pregnant women where the risk of infectious disease in the workplace exceeds that which we would experience outside the workplace.

That definitely applies here! I haven’t been in contact with anyone outside my household and haven’t been in a single shop!

Don’t want to have to throw legislation at them but feel I might have to.

We had an email from our head tonight (great timing for us all to worry all weekend) saying that staff should prepare to return on 1st June. I had a conversation with HR regarding me being exempt from returning 2 weeks ago and she said she would speak to the head and get back to me but I've not heard anything.

I'm only 12 weeks, but it's been a difficult pregnancy so far (I've had bleeding), its an IVF pregnancy and my midwife said they would be classing me as high risk due to previous miscarriage, PCOS and risk gestational diabetes - work do know all this so I'm hoping they will be kind. If not, I think I may be forced to get a sicknote from my GP as I can't risk this pregnancy in any way.

I'll be hitting 28 weeks when we return in September so will have to see what state we are in/what the guidance is then.

Similar to you Pinktruffle, also previous miscarriages and IVF pregnancy. Would you get signed off on grounds of stress? I was thinking about doctors note but wasn't sure on what grounds they'd give it to me.

The BMA came out yesterday and said that they also supported unions in delaying school reopening until infection rate was much lower. So this it quite literally doctors' advice for everyone, never mind pregnant women.

I'm starting to collect all the evidence/documentation I can now in readiness for a battle- hope it doesn't come to that!

Has anyone asked to see their risk assessment to see how the risk of Covid has been dealt with on their?

That's my next request if I'm told I have to be in.