Please tell me I’m not the only pregnant teacher returning to work??

[Prettylittlelady]

Anyone else?!

We've been given the choice but there's no expectation at all that we should - all staff got a questionnaire through before the weekend to ask whether we'd be in a position to return to work after half term and I just said no. That's secondary...I can appreciate it might be more difficult in primary? But the government and union advice is pretty clear... Have you been told you have to go in?!

Yes, primary and been told I can/have to work until 28 weeks.

I'm a Reception teacher, I'm not going in. I'm only 6 weeks but my Head is fine with it. She knows we had IVF in January so this is somewhat of a 'miracle' pregnancy, which maybe helps. I might reassess in September, if all is still well with the pregnancy and assuming school is going back. I just felt like it's too much of a risk - I know there's no evidence of particular danger to pregnancy but I feel like it would be a bad idea to get a fever at this point. And the guidance is clear that pregnant women are entitled to carry on WFH or be given an alternative role 🤷

I was kind of hoping to hear from someone else that was going to work too - like the title said not for people to heighten my anxiety! But thank you for the responses

Not trying to heighten your anxiety at all, your title suggested you were looking for other teachers to tell you what they were doing 🤷‍♀️ If you are anxious and you're not returning by choice just be aware that the government and union advice is that you should either be able to work from home or be given a role where there is no risk to you, ie planning rather than classroom teaching. If you feel you've not been given a choice get in touch with your union asap.

I’m in two minds. At the moment my head isn’t expecting me in and that is union advice. However, I have my 12 week scan in a couple of weeks and my Year 1 class isn’t returning until after that so tempted to go back providing everything is ok at the scan. I’m keen to go back but obviously don’t want to do the wrong thing. I’m pretty sure I have already had CV as well but who knows if you can get it again. Your head certainly shouldn’t be forcing you to return to a classroom based role. I’d speak to your union if you’re unhappy.

The union will support you if you do not want to go back in.

I am not going in (19 weeks). My Head is not expecting vulnerable staff in, I have not even been asked. I will be doing the lion's share of preparing home learning from home, I imagine.

Speak to your union if you are unsure.

My head has said that all pregnant staff should be working from home where possible and doesn't intend to add us to the rota of staff. I'm secondary school.
I don't know what I'll do in September, I'll be 28 weeks then but guess it depends where we are nationally at that stage.

Our pregnant staff have been told to work from home by SLT. Are you in a union? They would support you if you want to work from home.

It’s not that I’m unhappy per se, I’m Ok with it, it’s more reading what everyone else is saying that worries me. I thought I’d be able to keep myself as safe as possible by wearing gloves and keeping my distance. Things like using the toilet that all other staff have used scares me more than the actual teaching. I am in a union, my head is also totally expecting me to teach - oldest end of primary thankfully not youngest ones.

Ultimately it's up to you, there's no law keeping you at home. The guidance is there for your protection though, so your decision should be based on what you want to do not what your head is expecting - especially since everything legally is clear that he/she can't expect you to work. .

My decision is based on the fact that although the existing research suggests there's no additional risk, there's also a lack of evidence on the effects on a pregnancy (since it's so new) and for me, it's just not worth the risk. If it was just me I'd be in and volunteering for extra shifts, but the baby is obviously my priority - and my head hasn't even tried to suggest otherwise.

I'm 23+5 and I will be continuing to work from home, as will other pregnant staff at my school.

There are 3 pregnant teachers at our school. None will he expected to work as pregnancy is a condition on the clinically vulnerable list. They will be working from home indefinitely.

RCOG guidance says avoid face to face from 28weeks as all cases where pregnant women get covid which requires hospital admission have been 3rd trimester.

Your head should be following the guidance. If you are unable to work from home you should be given a role away from others. No head should be asking a pregnant to teach!

Are you in a union?

AFAIK all unions are saying the same that pregnant teachers should be able to work from home.

Please don't feel like you HAVE to go back, and get advice from your rep. X

I am 8 weeks pregnant and will be going into school on a rota.
I will only be in school for two weeks out of the whole half term and with the older children. I know union advice is to work from home but I wouldn't have told school before 12 weeks before any of this so I don't really want to be forced into saying something. It just wouldn't feel right for my head to know before my own family.