Teacher - don't want to go in!

[WindFlower92]

Hi all, found out we're expecting a couple of weeks ago and probably about 7 weeks so far! There's lots of threads about teachers on here I know, but none seem to mention anything about the outcomes of their RA. I've got mine with occupational health on Wednesday and I'm wondering what kind of questions they ask? I feel incredibly anxious about going in, and I want to know if working from home is a possibility? I work in secondary and teach 14 classes, with lots of room changes and duties each day. Some classes have 30 pupils in, so no social distancing. Head has said we can't wear coats (even teachers), so pupils are constantly closing the windows as it's too cold. This is going to be a constant battle over winter, and I'm spending all day shivering despite wearing layers! Is there anyone who is a teacher and is wfh in the first trimester?

Hi, congratulations! Unless you have another underlying health condition then you are low risk for covid and will probably have to go to work as normal. In the third trimester you become higher risk and may have to work from home but who knows where we will be with covid then!

As far as I understand, pregnant women aren’t at any more risk in the first and second trimesters, so you’re safe to work. If you can work from home then it’s worth asking, but I assume since you’re a teacher it’s not an option for you. I would really try not to worry - your risk hasn’t really increased as a result of your pregnancy.

My RA resulted in me being sent home 4 days into term but I was past the 28 week mark which I believed trigger that. Prior to this you're no more vulnerable

Thanks guys, but I still don't feel okay about it But then I am quite anxious generally! I think I'm going to ask to be moved to just 1 classroom or to change to 1-1 interventions instead of teaching a million different classes. I've seen people on here able to wfh from very early on so I know it is possible!

I would hate to be pregnant and working through this. I am an NHS nurse and manager and for my staff unless they have underlying conditions are still working on the wards, we ensure they are in green areas and of course we ensure the usual protective measures are in place. We now shield our pregnant staff from 28 weeks. I know how stressful my staff have found working through this, and have had some go on annual leave followed by sick leave, shielding, then maternity leave. I hope it goes well with your RA and you feel and little safer afterwards.

You aren't at higher risk from Covid until 28 weeks (or so they say) so I doubt you'll get accommodation on those grounds. You may be able to try to argue that your increased anxiety is pregnancy related and ask for adjustments on those grounds? There is something about reasonable temperatures and noise levels for pregnancy so check that out and see if they apply.

I'm a teacher who is extremely clinically vulnerable (not pregnant but other conditions). So, and not in a competitive way, medically I'm a lot higher risk for covid than you are.
We are all in school, no social distancing, limited cleaning. I agree the government have thrown us under the bus and totally get how anxious you must feel (I do too!) but I think you need to lower your expectations. If teachers with leukaemia, heart conditions, severe lung disease, over 50s obese males etc are still in school, you are not even going to be first in the queue for home working because first and second trimester barely adds to your risk.
Think about constructive things that actually could happen for your RA. Could you be allowed to wear a coat? (Although pregnancy is like having a mini internal radiator!) Could you stay in one classroom and the kids come to you?

@Rupertpenrysmistress that is really good you do that on wards for vulnerable staff.
Unfortunately schools don't (and can't without extra funding for supply). Even previously shielding staff have been thrown in with no PPE and full overcrowded classes with no social distancing and little extra cleaning.

alama.org.uk/covid-19-medical-risk-assessment/pregnancy-and-covid-19/

For starters OP, check this out. It's what our local OH department ( healthcare) is using for their workplace risk assessments.
Basically you are no more or less at risk than anyone else, or before you became pregnant. On that basis I don't think any reasonable Covid related adjustments apply.
After 28 weeks it is suggested that a non face to face role is more appropriate

That's what frustrates me in general about this @SchrodingersUnicorn; I have 2 women in my department who are very high risk and they're in as if everything is normal! I'm anxious on their behalf! I probably will be allowed to wear a coat, but will then have a battle with the pupils who aren't!

Does anyone know what happens about scans if you have to isolate? Obviously there's only a small 2 week window for the first one and I've been off with symptoms 3 times already since term began! I don't want to miss it because me or DD have picked up a cold.

I'm 34 weeks and still teaching (also secondary) - different schools have different policies but the kicker is that the government guidelines say all staff in vulnerable categories can be in school so where schools are being more cautious than that is unusual. I do know of schools sending staff home at 28 weeks but most schools aren't.
The best suggestion I can offer is that you speak with your HOD and Headteacher, outlining your concerns: the big one for me was "will senior leadership support strong behaviour management on social distancing?" telling before 12 weeks can feel awkward but if it's causing you anxiety then definitely have the confidential chat (I found out I was pregnant the week before schools closed so ended up telling school at 4.5 weeks - they were really good about it) unless the government guidelines change you probably won't be able to WFH, but you can probably get support for some mitigations to go in a risk assessment (e.g. cutting duties and relaxing rules on coats in your lessons to keep windows open - which is something I'm doing). Good luck and congratulations! :-)

I'm a manager in a healthcare setting and we've taken all advice from our governing bodies, produced our own RA and operating procedures, and I'm confused...
what's the deal with a coat? How will that protect you from Covid? 🤷🏼‍♀️

You do sound anxious OP. Surely your school with have approved and appropriate procedures for everyone to follow, whether vulnerable, pregnant or otherwise

I'm so sorry, it's a tremendously stressful situation for teachers and especially ones who like you are pregnant or higher risk. I can't apologise enough. You shouldn't be in this position reall.

Just on a purely practical level, for the cold, invest in some cashmere jumpers (which look smart yet are amazing at adapting to temperature changes) and thermal base layers which you can put on underneath your outfit. I have a navy cashmere jumper with a roll neck which is my absolute saviour for outside meetings and weirdly it doesn't get too hot when I cycle home.

@reallydisgruntled it's because literally the only protection we have against covid is ventilation. Windows wide open, dodgy school heating and it's freezing in our classrooms!

@reallydisgruntled it's so I can keep the windows open without the pupils complaining all lesson. Sounds stupid but having the same argument 5 times over every day is really draining! And I'm shivering constantly so would really appreciate being allowed to wear one! Will look at different jumpers @MotherOfDragonite, thanks. I'll definitely be asking for one classroom so I don't have to be in the corridor, and I know that's what the high risk teachers have been allowed. I did try that at the beginning of the year though and they said we had no more classrooms, so I don't know what the solution will be! Hopefully it won't be the tiny hut outside with no windows...

I'm 27 weeks (no underlying health conditions) and will be working til Christmas. Just being careful with hand washing and sanitising. There is not much else you can do!

I really feel for you OP. I wouldn’t be happy going to work in my first or second trimester either (or indeed third but sounds like that’s protected anyway) as we don’t know the risks of Covid on babies at these critical stages of development. I recognise that I’m extreme privileged to have been allowed to wfh throughout (NHS mental health nurse) and appreciate not all roles can accommodate this. Please stress your levels of anxiety at your RA as your mental well-being is important too. Even if you could just get through the first trimester at home that would help.

I think at this point, your best option is to think of a list of things that they can realistically do that would lower your risk and make you feel more comfortable. Have a really good think and write it down so you don’t forget. I would also keep in regular contact with whoever signs off on the risk assessment and voice any concerns you have. I would also suggest getting it in writing on the RA that it will be reviewed every two weeks, as the situation is ever changing.

I’m not aware of many schools that are allowing pregnant women to work from home before 28 weeks. Indeed, I’ve been in school until the past couple of weeks, all the way through the pandemic. It wasn’t even raised as an issue until September (when clearly the risk was higher). Even then, my risk assessment was basically wear a visor in class and a mask as well when in corridors etc. Wipe down your desk if someone else has been using it or you are in a different room and sanitise your hands regularly. I took a flask of hot water, tea bags and individual sachets of milk so I could make drinks in my room and not need to use the crowded staff room.

I was told to work from home just before I hit 33 weeks and that was on the orders of my consultant as I am a higher risk pregnancy.

I really feel for you as it is a very worrying time and it’s a situation that not many of us have had to face! Take care and congratulations.