New lockdown & teachers

[MabelBunny4]

Hello,

I’m 16 weeks pregnant, a reception teacher and until now felt quite calm about the whole covid pregnancy thing. I did a risk assessment with my head teacher when returning to school in September which to be quite honest was a waste of time 🙈 as let’s face it, working in the early years, there really is nothing you can do to create a ‘covid secure’ workplace. So I just got on with it.

However, now that we have gone into another national lockdown, I’m beginning to feel anxious. I totally agree with schools staying open (before any teacher bashers hop on complaining teachers never want to be at work - Twitter is full of them at the moment!) and during the first lockdown you couldn’t keep me away from school! I dreaded my weeks off the rota when I was working from home and missed being in school! However this time round, I obviously have someone else to think about and feel the need to protect myself and my baby. If this was the first lockdown where schools were closed, pregnant women wouldn’t be included on rotas and we would be working exclusively from home. The announcement yesterday stated clinically vulnerable people (which pregnant women fall under) can go into work but should be adhering to a social distancing - this is impossible to do when working in EYFS, it is quite literally business as usual pre-covid in our case, with maybe a little more hand washing!

I feel worried with the data showing that this second peak could be even worse than the second so I’m concerned that the same protection of pregnant women (teachers) during the first wave isn’t going to be done this time around. Are we going to be expected to continue putting ourselves at risk during this lockdown or will we be working from home?

I honestly love my job and the prospect of working from hone is far from ideal! I want to be in school with the children day in and day out, but this time around I feel it’s important for me to put my pregnancy first and protect myself.

I know none of you will know any more than me and we just need to hear what the leaders of our schools say when we return tomorrow, but is anyone else feeling this way?

X

It depends on the school.
At my school we have a pregnant teacher. She has already been working from home for about a month and we are in a tier one area. My Head has employed someone else to cover her because she is not willing to take the risk. We are not loaded with money at my school by any means but nevertheless, this is the decision she has taken.
She’s a very good Head.
I know it’s really difficult, but I think you need to speak to your head again because you are right - your safety is important.

Ahh bless you. It's worrying time isn't it. The guidance for pregnant women has now changed due to evidence that they're not more likely to get covid and not causing any big problems in pregnancy. Even nhs frontline doctors and nurses are now working past 28 weeks rather than initially been told to stay at home. Just make sure your risk assessment allows you to social distance some what and use ppe.

@Pink15 is there really enough evidence to know that though? The virus hasn’t even been around 12months... I understand teachers are in no way the only people being put in this position and it’s so hard on all pregnant women at the moment - no one wants to feel they’re letting their employers down and least of all, children.
Like I said, my risk assessment isn’t with the paper it’s written on. Social distancing isn’t in any way possible working with 4 and 5 year olds.

@Nuffaluff this is interesting! I feel that Headteacher’s are being put in a difficult position too because the guidance is so unclear and like you say, it seems to being dealt with completely differently in every school. And as you say, there is the pressure of knowing a replacement for you will need to be paid and i don’t think there are any schools loaded with money. But I agree with your head’s way of thinking, I just don’t feel it’s a risk work taking.

X

@MabelBunny4 I’m a teacher too but just 8+1 so planning to tell my HT when I’m back next week and ask for a RA.

I had a confidential chat with my school nurse at 6 weeks, who was concerned as she said the worry is more that if you get covid, the full range of treatments may not be used without risk to the baby. I’m older at 41 and with recurrent miscarriages so high risk pregnancy anyway.

I’m planning to wear a mask, actively avoid corridors at busy times and also to ask to wfh when I have leadership time, which was all suggested by my dr.

I have 2 friends who are patient facing for the NHS, both over 28 weeks and both working from home so not sure @Pink15 info is 100% correct. I imagine that much like schools, it varies depending on what Trust you work for.

My school (secondary) have allowed all pregnant staff in the third trimester to work from home and for any one earlier than that, they were given the option to do what they are comfortable with. It just seems to vary so much depending on head/MAT. What Union are you with @MabelBunny4? May be worth seeking some guidance from them?

@Pinktruffle for nhs workers it's now on individuals risk beyond 28weeks and no longer a blanket rule for all health care professionals over 28 weeks. If they started working from home before the guidance change that might be why. The current guidelines I stated are definitely correct as per the RCOG.

@MabelBunny4 yeah I agree there's not enough evidence yet was just trying to reassure you from what they've found so far. If the risk assessment says you need to stay 2m away then they will have to adapt your job to do so. Even if that is more office based work etc. If you can't work in a covid safe work place then they have to find alternative

I've been told it will be business as usual. I'm 40 and concerned this will be my last opportunity. The guidance is very unclear and teachers need and deserve some specific and clear guidelines relating to those deemed clinically vulnerable, including pregnant women. The guidance says that after 28 weeks, social distancing should be strictly followed - we all know that this is impossible in a school. I don't want to wfh but we need masks to be made compulsory for students as well as staff in corridors and classrooms. I also need to know that I am on firm legal ground if I say that I cannot socially distance effectively when moving between lessons (we no longer have our own classrooms and move within areas of the school allocated to different year group bubbles). What can I insist on as part of my risk assessment? It just isn't clear enough and leaves the clinically vulnerable in a very difficult position. It shouldn't be a school lottery - guidance should be consistent for all.

The guidance still puts pregnant women into the vulnerable category, previously it said more so third trimester, now it just says ‘pregnant’. As you say, it says to take particular care with social distancing and minimise contacts- impossible in a primary classroom! I am a reception teacher too and am currently 24 weeks. The plan was for me to WFH from 28 weeks which is current union guidance and also HR guidance in my authority. Not sure if anything will change or it will be brought forward now. I definitely understand your anxiety and hope your headteacher is supportive xx

It's a real mess now and just seems to totally depend on your school. I'm a fellow Reception teacher and am really lucky that my SLT have been super supportive and have kept me out of the class since September when I was 20 weeks, and WFH from 28 weeks. I had to initiate that conversation with them though. If you have a good relationship with your SLT and set out your concerns clearly, hopefully they will use some discretion. Your Union might be helpful too in clarifying what the current advice is and backing you up. (Sometimes just the mention of the U word is enough to spur a school into action.)

I'm a year 1 teacher and currently 24 weeks pregnant. As soon as I found out I was pregnant in June I was taken off the rota but now it seems business is as usual. Like you, I previously haven't been too worried about it all but feeling quite anxious now. It is physically impossible to socially distance from the children, particularly when I don't have a TA in the afternoons. I am going to speak to my head tomorrow about it but I'm not sure that there is much she can do, other than send me home which I really don't want to happen but will do if that's what is safest for me and baby.
I am seeing my midwife on Tuesday so will also get advice from her.

Hi,
I'm feeling similar. I am 22 weeks and teach in a secondary school, but even though it is well managed and they are technically doing everything they can, the kids are not social distancing and classrooms are badly ventilated, stuffy and overcrowded with up to 32 adult-size people with no sense of danger and a desire to shout across the room at every possible opportunity! Corridors are also packed and kids are not all wearing their masks properly (if at all.) I wasn't too worried before but the new data showing the rise in cases in 11-16 year olds is quite scary.
I know the evidence is limited but I am very aware my immune system is compromised and I can't see how that can't add the the risk?
Xx

I fully understand your anxiety- I am 12 weeks pregnant and working in KS1. I was pregnant in the first lockdown and had a MC. Very anxious this time to not be shielding and to be in school. I have the option to wear a shield and for the most part can socially distance in the classroom but not when walking though corridors. Even with this, school still feels very unsafe and I’ve had breakdowns at school because of it. Seems that teachers in some schools can work from home and others can’t- it comes down to what the HT says which I find difficult because it shouldn't be down to one person to decide your risk. I am taking it week by week at the moment as the anxiety is making me unwell and I feel on the edge of getting signed off.

The rcog does clearly say that if measures such a social distancing etc can’t be followed then the environment is not safe for you and you should be suspended on medical grounds with full pay. This should be done for you really.

I’ve spoken to the union which wasn’t any help as the gov guidelines are so unclear. They believe pregnant teachers should not be in school but are unable to enforce this.

My midwife told me that none of her pregnant colleagues are patent facing and have been given other roles.