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Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

Original poster

Anyone finishing work at 28 weeks?!!

39 replies

topmum1 · 20/10/2020 19:45

I am 26 weeks pregnant and a teacher. I have heard rumours of other schools asking pregnant teachers to finish work or work from home once they hit 28 weeks due to covid risks. Has anyone got any experience of this? My school have said nothing but I know of another school in the area (East Yorkshire) that has asked teachers to work virtually/at home once they hit 28 weeks. Now feeling concerned!

OP posts:
dementedpixie · 20/10/2020 19:55

Maternity leave/pay cant start until 29 weeks. They can't make you start your leave early unless you are off with a pregnancy related illness in the last 4 weeks of your pregnancy I.e. 36 weeks

Percypiglets · 20/10/2020 19:59

It's covid govt guidance to WFH from 28wks, or if not possible suspension on full pay. Maternity leave starting when you want. Have you not had risk assessments?

bumblingalonghappily · 20/10/2020 20:03

Don't wait for your school to say something. I saw my consultant a couple of weeks ago and she made it clear to me I can't work in school (secondary) after 28 weeks as it's just not safe enough. I told my head and I'm going to be doing admin work from home. They can't make you start mat leave early, don't worry, but you shouldn't be in school either.

MissHoney85 · 20/10/2020 20:05

I'm a primary school teacher, I've just reached 28 weeks and am now working from home. I'll start my maternity leave as originally planned at the start of the Spring Term.

Original poster
topmum1 · 20/10/2020 20:14

I am secondary school teacher also teaching a level which is deemed higher risk at moment too. Have had risk assessment but no mention of 28 week date. Seeing consultant in two weeks but clearly numbers going up and we have had two student cases in our school. With neu think will seek guidance asap!

OP posts:
Anon9990 · 20/10/2020 20:25

I’m being put on ‘special leave’ from 28 weeks but I work in nhs and it’s not possible for me to WFH with my role x

other89 · 20/10/2020 21:45

I’m also now working from home since 28 weeks (primary teacher). I was told this was the case when we returned in September and wasn’t given an option that’s just what school said was the guidance. My school just put out my maternity post to start from my 28th week. My maternity won’t start till the first week of spring.

cabbageking · 20/10/2020 22:23

The 28 weeks guidance has been removed.
You are not advised to shield but to take extra care and avoid any significant risk.
A specific risk assessment should be undertaken and discussed.

MrsB12 · 20/10/2020 22:42

I am a primary school teacher and my county (Cardiff) have said to work.from home at 28 weeks which I will be doing. They have already appointed my replacement and we are telling parents this week (I am nearly 24 weeks currently). My head doesn't know what I will be doing at home, however! I just know I wont be starting my maternity until I choose to.

MrsR87 · 20/10/2020 22:48

This is varying massively from school to school from what I have heard.
They cannot force you to take early maternity if they are asking you to work from home due to a risk assessment and concerns about COVID. If they make that choice then you work from home or are signed off in full pay.

I have been working from home from 32 weeks due to a higher risk pregnancy and my consultant saying that it was necessary. With the amount of isolating pupils we’ve had, I’ve had plenty to keep me busy! I will be starting my mat leave at 37 weeks as planned.

CrazyCatLady2788 · 20/10/2020 23:15

Yes I have been working from home since 32 weeks too. I'm secondary and have been teaching my usual timetable over Teams. I'll be working up until 37 weeks also and starting my maternity leave then. We were starting to get a lot of cases between pupils and staff so I don't think my risk assessment stood up anymore x

MrsR87 · 21/10/2020 09:25

@CrazyCatLady2788

Yes I have been working from home since 32 weeks too. I'm secondary and have been teaching my usual timetable over Teams. I'll be working up until 37 weeks also and starting my maternity leave then. We were starting to get a lot of cases between pupils and staff so I don't think my risk assessment stood up anymore x
Yes same here. Even if the consultant hadn’t enforced the working from home, I think within a week or so it would have been clear that the risk assessment was no longer viable with the amount of cases we were stating to get! I was a bit gutted at the time as I love my job and didn’t want to let my department down, but looking at the circumstances now, it was definitely the right call!
Skyla01 · 21/10/2020 09:41

@topmum1 does you school not have local or regional guidance in place to answer this? I would ask higher up the chain for the protocol. Sounds like you should be wfh from 28weeks then starting mat leave when you want to. You might be able to help self isolating students?

I don't work in a school, but we have a company policy in place to WFH from 28weeks so takes the decision out of our hands.

Original poster
topmum1 · 21/10/2020 11:39

Have contacted my local neu rep who says they recommened members should work from home after 28 weeks. Will speak to school tomorrow to see what they say. Unsure of local protocol on this though.

OP posts:
Glitterynails · 22/10/2020 19:01

My consultant has said I should not be in class from 28 weeks but the head is making this really difficult and laying on the guilt.

bumblingalonghappily · 22/10/2020 20:21

That's awful @Glitterynails What have they said? They can't go against medical advice!

Glitterynails · 22/10/2020 20:33

They keep forwarding me any gov guidance that mentions vulnerable people should be working in school. DfE updated the full opening of schools guidance today and link to a page on RCOG that says there is no evidence that pregnant women are more at risk. It doesn’t link to the clinical guidance but to a Q&A page. Head keeps telling me about other schools with pregnant women working past 28 weeks. Head keeps mentioning how financially unviable it is to have me not teaching. Head said that it will be up to governors!

Summerrp · 22/10/2020 23:54

I work in a nursing home, havent been told anything about 28 weeks

Luckily I have saved my annual leave so I'm going to take that at 33 weeks... gives me 5 weeks off before I start maternity leave at 38 weeks

GanderousGoose · 23/10/2020 06:36

The most recent guidance (14 Oct) only says that women from 28 weeks should be particularly attentive to social distancing. I can't find anything recent to say we shouldn't be in school from 28 weeks. The NAS link is still live but is old now. Can anyone correct me?

Subordinateclause · 23/10/2020 06:41

There is no schools guidance on this now and it makes me angry that it differs from county to county. I am in primary and expected to keep working. I've told them in my last few weeks I won't be going near children to help them - I'm hoping this prompts them to hire my mat cover early!

CoalCraft · 23/10/2020 06:45

I'm not in teaching but I've been asked to work from home exclusively since turning 28 weeks. My role has had to be shifted to accommodate this and honestly it's kind of hard. Imagine it would be much more inconvenient for a teacher!

MrsB25 · 23/10/2020 06:50

They updated the guidance this week so it is now less clear cut 😢 however it still says to take particular care with social distancing, which my head has agreed is impossible in a class of 4 year olds (I’m a reception teacher), so she is still supporting me WFH from 28 weeks especially as we are in a tier 3 area and have had a lot of cases in school.

LittleRa · 23/10/2020 07:03

I’m currently 20 weeks, and am a primary school teacher. I’ll be 28 weeks around Christmas. I keep reading stuff on forums and Facebook about teachers WFH from 28 weeks but have never seen anything definitive that I could take to my SLT. I do have a risk assessment but it’s pretty meh and I think they’d be quite shocked if I went and said I should WFH! I really wouldn’t see it going down well! I have asked my midwife at 12 and 16 week appointments but she said the advice is carry on as normal. I keep getting people saying to me “oh and can’t you WFH from 28 weeks?” and i’m like “says who?!” And “do you want to be the one to tell my Head that?!” I am under a consultant due to low birth weight last time and low Papp-a (puts you more at risk of developing pre-eclampsia) so will be having growth scans at 28, 32 and 36 weeks so I suppose I’ll see if I get any different advice then.

MaryShelley1818 · 23/10/2020 07:39

I'll be working entirely from home from 28wks. I'm currently 24wks pregnant. I'm a Safeguarding Social Worker.

I'm going to finish work at 32wks with Annual Leave. Then start Maternity Leave at 36wks with planned induction for 37wks.

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