Newly pregnant teacher returning to school- seeking advice

[MrsB12]

Hi all
This morning I had a positive test-I think about 3-4 weeks amd will be my 1st. As a primary school teacher I am meant to be returning to the classroom on June 29th (living and working in West Wales). As a school we have already planned for there to be social distancing and no more than 8-10 children in class.

I am happy to go back and I am happy to be around the children, however, I am a bit worried as to what my headteacher will say and whether I will be told to stay away.

From what I can see from Gov guidance, teachers are classed as vulnerable and should socially distance, which is what we aim to do at school. I also saw that pregnant women are of a higher risk in the 3rd trimester.

My question is, is anyone else in this position- what are you having to do? Are you still able to return and teach? And, do you think it is necessary to share my pregnancy news as it is still so early and I haven't even been to the doctors!

Many thanks and sorry for the long post!

Hiii! I'm a teacher too at a high school in England. I'm currently 15.5 weeks and I told my Head I was pregnant after my 12 week scan. I had been going into school before this time to support key workers' children (I hadn't told school at that point) but I did feel safe with the measures school had put in place. I was happy to continue going into school but after my Head spoke to HR they decided due to the guidance I was to work from home and that's what was safest. I'm not sure how long it will be for. I haven't been used on any of the rotas etc up until the start of the summer holidays. I'm sure your school will make the right decision for you when you're ready to tell them.

@MrsB12 I haven’t been put on any rota for the key workers or the children returning to school from next week. I’m just over 16 weeks and haven’t been to work since the day after I found out I was pregnant.

Hi @MrsB12, I’m just following along to see what others are saying about this as I’m in the same boat!

I am 19 weeks pregnant and a teacher in a secondary school. I wasn't put on the rota for key worker students and haven't been put on the rota for when year 10 and 12 return. My school have allowed me to work from home for the forseable future.

@MrsB12 I'm school too and was due in. I am around 5weeks. I'm part of SLT so knew our risk assessments on staff so I told my head and she said she wants me at home.

My consultant (I lost my son prematurely 2 years ago), who I had to call as soon as I got a BFP, has told me I need to self isolate as best practice. I am on steroids tho!

Stay home & keep safe.

I am 9 weeks and a secondary teacher in Scotland. Pupils will return in August, and i will too but a few other pregnant teachers have refused to. I'm happy to return as i believe the measures in place are adequate, i believe the greatest risk is 3rd trimester. I did tell my principal teacher and head teacher when i was 6 weeks or so as i withdrew from the hubs we have set up for keyworkers children as I'd been working in them and the wee ones were all over me the whole day. Take your union advice, our unions even have templates for emails to send etc but they are very, very good up here.

Thank you everyone! I spent 2 days at the Hub last week before finding out and that hasn't caused me any concern! It is lovely to see that you all have the support from your SLT...I am in no doubt I will too but it doesn't stop the guilt when I know they have spent weeks trying to sort out staffing!
In normal circumstances I probably wouldn't share the news so early but I am totally overthinking everything.

OP, the key aspect here is that you are saying you do want to go back but are afraid you won't be allowed if they know you're pregnant? If you're happy with the measures in place and have done your research, then you need to make the decision that's right for you.
Legally you don't have to tell your employer until 25 weeks so you could just keep your mouth shut until after the summer holiday?

Personally I'm working from home and have been since we closed (secondary teacher, 17 weeks) -- I was given the choice with regard to the wider reopening, though: HR are obviously letting me follow the guidelines and union advice, but they did ask if that's what I wanted to do because they said that some people are wanting to go back for their own mental health :-)

Yea..I am wanting to go back desperately. All I have done today is try to research what govWales, unions, etc are saying!
That's interesting to hear regarding the mental health aspect...thanks!

I really appreciate the opinions of others as finding out the news this morning was a bit of a shock!

@MrsB12 if you want to go back then keep quiet.
Schools have to be careful in saying you cannot return but they also have to be careful that you don't sue them.

I lost my son 2 years ago so I am taking absolutely no chances of anything. But we are all different.

@Rainbow5SF I am really sorry for your loss. Thank you for your views on this.

@MrsB12 I am in the same position. I'm 5 weeks and in on a rota system with a group of 10 y6 children. I am going to ring the midwife tomorrow to arrange my appointment and see what her advice is. I did feel safe last week being in with the children but I also appreciate that the head will have certain protocols to follow and can't do that unless she has all the information. I would much prefer to be in school though!

Im 21 weeks and just completed my ITT. I'm due end of October but will be starting on school 1st September. I have absolutely no idea what situation we will be in by then but the school are aware I am expecting

I work in a school and haven't been put on the rota since I told my manager I was pregnant. The RCOG guidance is WFH if you can. We have a few pregnant teachers at different stages and none are being asked to go in. I think my school would rather not risk it as they have enough non vulnerable staff who can go in. I'm very grateful as it would worry me to be honest!

I'm 21 weeks and told school at 7 weeks because of morning sickness but it did mean they obviously knew when the initial 'vulnerable' category was announced. I've been wfh since then and off all the rotas (secondary school). We did get asked if we wanted to go back in for next week but I'm not sure anyone has! It could be worth checking with your union to see what advice they give you regarding wanting to be in?

Thank you all...it is reassuring to see I am not the only one with some worries! As we haven't got the kids back for another 2 weeks I am going to leave it this week and speak to GP/midwife and union etc to see what they advise

Hello. I'm 21 weeks working in Secondary. My head originally said I shouldn't be in however I really needed some structure and was also aware staff were only in one day a week anyway.
I got a letter from my GP which says I'm fine to work up to 28 weeks and I'm not doing back Wednesday.

I'm 9 weeks, told my Head as soon as I found out at 4 weeks and got taken off the rota. I teach Reception, so my class has now gone back. School were happy for me to come in or carry on WFH, it was my choice. I decided to stay at home. I really miss school and feel a lot of guilt about not being there. But, I figure it's best to be cautious. There's not a lot of evidence out there about Covid and early pregnancy but common sense suggests that getting a fever would be a bad idea. I might feel more confident about it once I'm in the second trimester and things feel a bit less fragile.

I was 14 weeks when we first went into lockdown and my headteacher put me on working from home immediately and didn't put me down for any of the key worker rotas. I'll be 28 weeks on Thursday so my headteacher has said to work from home now doing my Senco role until I start my maternity leave, she's been great about it all.

I’m 22+4 and currently teaching and have been for 2 weeks - a group of 7 Y6s. I feel safe enough much more so than I though I would. I stick to my room and don’t mingle with any other staff. I told my head I was pregnant at 7 weeks and wasn’t at all on the key workers rota during the initial stages I completely worked from home. I have been told by midwives I can work until 28 weeks and the guidance to more strictly social distance kicks in. In September I won’t return, I’ll work from home until starting my Mat leave.

Hi @MrsB12
I'm a primary teacher too, am 15 weeks today. I have a year 1 bubble of up to 8 children for 2 days a week and do the rest of my hours at home (I work 4 days). I've only been back in school for 2 weeks though as I wasn't on the rota for key workers/vulnerable children. So far has been ok, I'm happy with what my school have put in place for social distancing etc but have said I will be reconsidering if things are still the same when I get to 28 weeks, which is just after we return for the autumn term, as I am less happy about that.
Good luck, I hope it goes well for you xx

Primary teacher here, currently 25w.has just had 12w scan when pregnant women were added to vulnerable list so I'd only just days before told my Head.
Head didn't put me on the rota and has categorically said they won't have me back on site (despite me wanting to) because there isn't enough data available around the impact of CV19 in pregnancy at any stage so they aren't comfortable with responsibility for my individual risk assessment. So, despite being a low risk pregnancy, wanting to go back in, being happy with the measures in place at school, wanting to lead my bubble (I teach one of the returning year groups), for structure and sanity/mental health, Head has said no.

You don't have to tell your employer about pregnancy until 25 weeks, but they may guess if you suffer sickness or start showing early. Do what you feel comfortable with.