Any pregnant teachers?

[Chocolateandcoffee1234]

Hello, I was wondering if any pregnant teachers have been told what the plan for them is when schools return? How many weeks are you? Do you have to go in or are school allowing you to remain working from home?

Only 6 weeks but told SLT last week when there was rota planning. I am now wfh for the time being and there was even talk of advertising my job for Sept just in case the advice is still to avoid being in school I was really surprised but I guess they have figured it would be best to try to line up cover earlier (would only be 2 months earlier than I would start mat leave I suppose). Also, so strange to know 4 members of my SLT know before all of our own family and friends!

2 terms sorry

I’m 23 weeks and am going to be continuing to work from home for the foreseeable.

Pregnant staff in my organisation are returning until they reach 28 weeks and then being asked to take mat leave from then in line with the government guidelines of risk being in last trimester. I'm surprised it's not the same for everyone, we are not able to socially distance or use PPE either

All our pregnant staff are wfh long term, regardless of how far along they are. It's understood that they won't return until they've had their babies.

Surely they’re not asking them to take mat leave from 28 weeks!! Isn’t that illegal and discriminatory??
I’m 28 weeks and had to dig my heels in with my HT a little, but I’ll be WFH until my due date/ summer hols begins.

@ChablisandCrisps I’m not sure you should all be going in and then being forced to start mat leave at 28 weeks?! That doesn’t sound right at all to me, mat leave automatically starts 4 weeks before due date if you are I’ll with a pregnancy related illness, but working from home to shield doesn’t fall under this?? Have you contacted your union at all?

I am 28 weeks tomorrow, working from home for the rest of the summer term and then my mat leave is starting mid August just before my due date, as originally planned. Luckily I have a very supportive head who has not allowed me on any rotas for the whole of lockdown.

@ChablisandCrisps

I don’t think they can do that. I would kick off big time if they tried to force me to take mat leave from 28 weeks!

@ChablisandCrisps you need to get your union involved, that does not sound right at all!

The guidance, both govt and union, is clear that pregnant women at all stages are 'vulnerable' and as such need the option to work from home or be given an alternative role where we can maintain 2m distance.

I'm only 6.5 weeks, but I'm not going back yet. My Head is the only person who knows I'm pregnant yet, which is a bit weird but I guess you just have to roll with the circumstances. I might consider going back in my second trimester - I'm just worried about getting a fever at this delicate stage. I don't know if that's scientifically justified but it feels like it makes sense!

31 weeks and teaching from home as thankfully my school seems to agree that pregnant women are still considered "vulnerable".

Where I am all pregnant women are WFH for the foreseeable future, regardless of stage in pregnancy.

@ChablisandCrisps I don’t think they can do that! I was of the belief that work can only put you on maternity leave for health grounds from 36 weeks. Before then, you can be off sick and there’s nothing they can do!

My trust sought HR advice and all pregnant staff are to continue working from home on full pay. I’m 24 weeks and won’t be going back. I’ll start maternity leave as the September term starts.

The risk (as they know at the moment) is only in the third trimester so its work from home from 28 weeks. I work in an industry where work from home isn't possible for security and GDPR reasons so mat leave it is.

I'm WFH and not expected back 1st June (although my class is one of those due to be returning then). My Head interpreted the guidance when pregnant women were first added to the vulnerable list in March as that meant I'll be WFH for 12w and TBC after that. Coincidentally, Head has put my class due to return on 15th June i.e. 12w after that initial WFH...and hasn't said whether I'm expected to take them then or if the other teacher that had been penned in on the draft plan will be....🤷‍♀️ I'll be close to but not quite at 28w by then...

ChablisandCrisps

Don't accept that, they need to either furlough you or you take sick leave from 28 weeks. I would not be taking mat leave that early.

@ChablisandCrisps the guidance from both the govt and unions does categorically not say third trimester only. Those in the third trimester are shielded, so have a further level of protection. But all pregnant women are in the 'vulnerable' category and therefore need to have the option of working from home or being given an alternative role.

Union guidance here - neu.org.uk/coronavirus-what-you-need-know-pregnancy-and-maternity

"If you are pregnant, whatever stage of your pregnancy, we say you should not be in school. Government advice is that all pregnant women, as well as those with underlying health conditions, should work from home if possible, avoid public transport and avoid social contact."

I am 10+3 and told my HT I was pregnant last Friday - I tried to keep it under wraps and come in on a rota for key workers children but I eventually had to tell her. She has said that I'll be WFH for the foreseeable and that all pregnant women are advised to work from home where possible.

@chablisandcrisps if they can't modify your work environment to make it safe it's for them to suspend you on full pay until your maternity leave starts, not for you to have to waste maternity leave on something they should be covering. The only way your maternity leave should be triggered earlier than you wish it to is if you have a pregnancy related medical condition in the four weeks prior to your due date. You can't even take maternity leave from 28 weeks as the earliest you'd be eligible to take it is 11 weeks before the due date. Your employer is talking out their backside if they're telling you this is the only way. Contact your union, and failing that ACAS and maternity action, that's absolutely appalling.