Teaching pregnant coronavirus

[Jonsey1987]

I'm in my second trimester, I don't feel safe at work (secondary) what are people's experiences?
My school has staff and pupil cases but no bubbles self isolating for the 14 days - just a few sent home. I'm also hearing stories that if the NHS guidance is to self isolate for 14 days it doesn't apply to teachers. Tbh I don't believe it and wanted to see what others' experiences are!!

[husbandcallsmepickle]

I'm a nursery nurse which means SD is impossible. Sent home after risk assessment at 8 wks, now 18 wks and no idea if/when I'm going back.

[Username6587423]

😂 I told my school in the holidays and only got my risk assessment on Thursday after nagging and nagging and having a draft email addressed to the HT sitting in my inbox ready to go if nothing was done! I'm glad I told them, as at least they know I'm pregnant and not rocking the shittest hangover after developing a habit over lockdown 😉...but apart from the relief of not hiding something it's not made a lot of difference!

[Jessica12345625]

@FebruaryJuly I think you should tell your school sooner (obviously just my opinion) but you need a risk assessment specifically for pregnancy. They can't discriminate against you, so it should not affect if you are given a permanent contract or not.
@OverTheRainbow88 problem is, it could be a very very long wait

[OverTheRainbow88]

I’m holding off getting pregnant as feel unsafe at school at the moment.

[FebruaryJuly]

I have just found out I am pregnant (4 and half weeks). I am now on my second year of fixed term in my school and teach year 1.

There is basically no social distancing, only hand washing and sanitising (it's too difficult to social distance at this age). Stress levels and pressure is high since the longest I get away from the children is 20 minutes at lunch time. We have more work than we used to have put on top of us in addition to the extra covid bits (like sanitising our classroom and sanitising the children's equipment). Our head still wants the children to get changed for PE in school and back into uniform so I am helping 27 5 and 6 year olds get changed into their PE kit and back into their uniform 3 times a week. That's 27 children's top buttons and up to 14 girls' tights. We have had some children off with symptoms or because they have been in contact with somebody with it and have them back in after a few days.

I don't want to tell my work that I am pregnant for a while (ideally after Christmas) because I worry they they won't give me permanent if they know that I am pregnant.
I was hopeful for permanent at the end of last year but the decision making got pushed back due to covid.

Xx

[colourofblue]

Yes I know it is from 36 weeks.

[CuriousFluff]

@colourofblue go and check with your union rep over every single proposed action. If you're signed off within a certain number of weeks from your due date your mat leave officially starts.

[colourofblue]

Well it is looking likely I’m going to have to be signed off anyway

[CuriousFluff]

@colourofblue you need to push for this if you're not comfortable in school

[CuriousFluff]

So your school is set up for it. Pregnant teacher in their third trimester sets work on class charts whilst other qualified/ appropriate adult, supply if required delivers it and supervises the class.

[colourofblue]

Well yes we did that just not via video just work set on class charts.

[CuriousFluff]

I'll re-type "of remote teaching materials"

[CuriousFluff]

Well yes if your school is set up for it you can. Ours just isn’t. We didn’t do remote teaching over lockdown either.

That's massively unprofessional. They advised against video lessons but not provision not remote teaching materials. Whether it worksheets, online power points etc.

[colourofblue]

Is it really unusual? I thought unions advised schools not to do remote teaching. I know some did though.

[CuriousFluff]

@colourofblue expect your school to get slated by Ofsted then Well yes if your school is set up for it you can. Ours just isn’t. We didn’t do remote teaching over lockdown either. How unusual....

[colourofblue]

Well yes if your school is set up for it you can. Ours just isn’t. We didn’t do remote teaching over lockdown either.

[FirstTimeBumps]

@colourofblue teaching from home.

[Glitterynails]

I’m pregnant and teach Y1. I’m in my 2nd trimester and social distancing is impossible. I feel worried! I know other jobs have lots of contacts too but are these so without any protections in the way that teachers are facing? No distancing, no masks, lots of bodies squashed into small rooms with bad ventilation? My risk assessment leaves it all up to me to social distance from the children and other staff. It’s not possible and has me on edge all the time.

[Jonsey1987]

Also haven't all schools been asked to prep just in case we go back into lockdown. I'm sure we had a deadline to put school plans in place and have x amount of weeks planning ready?!? I could be doing so much working from home even if its attendance calls in a morning or writing out referrals.

[MissHoney85]

I'm a Reception teacher and 23 weeks pregnant. I was really worried about the impracticality of social distancing in Reception, especially when they are brand new and need physical comfort etc. I expressed this to my HT over the holidays and luckily she has been super supportive and said from the start that it would be my choice. I got a referral to Occupational Health hoping they would either tell me what measures I could put in place to make it safe, or tell me to stay home. They ended up saying the same as everyone else, "it's your choice" etc. So, literally on the inset day at the start of term I decided against going back into class and my HT managed to swing a good supply teacher to take my place. Instead we agreed I will do 3 days a week in school doing 1:1 / small group interventions with Y1 and 2 (outside where possible) and 2 days a week WFH helping the Deputy Head with curriculum review stuff and any other donkey work they can find for me.

It was a really hard decision as I felt absolutely terrible letting people down. I lost a lot of sleep over it. But everyone understands and I can't believe really how lucky I've been to have such a supportive SLT.

From 28 weeks I will be wfh full time as per Occ Health guidance. I will probably then be doing some intervention work with small groups over the internet, partly as a trial for if the wider school has to go back to home / blended learning.

[Jess1309]

Primary teacher and I am going to be working from home from 28 weeks (in a couple of weeks time). I've had to discuss with my school but the guidance says from 28 weeks and my midwife said the same.
It has been a really hard decision and my school aren't particularly pleased but I read the guidance as it needed to be done.

[colourofblue]

Doing just what, sorry - slow.

[FirstTimeBumps]

@colourofblue I'm doing just that. Cover supervisor in the room for behaviour plus a student teacher in some lessons. Done on my school's insistence, I would actually like to be in the classroom but my school are being safety conscious.

[Bernardstolemywatch]

Not a teacher but in my third trimester working as a beauty therapist, so extremely close contact with many people. Just being sensible and hoping for the best.

[DisneyGirl2387]

I'm a pregnant primary teacher. 32 weeks and currently teaching year 1 two days a week and working from home the other three days. I'm counting down the days until I finish in October half term. There is no way of socially distancing with little ones! I've had a chat about risks with my HT but no risk assessment as of yet! I feel for all or you pregnant teachers out there, sending the love although it is nice not to feel so alone! X