26 weeks and teaching

[emvy]

I just thought I’d post and see whether I got any responses to this really as I’d be interested to know what other people/schools are doing.

I’m currently 26 weeks pregnant and a primary school teacher - year 2. I had a risk assessment and an assessment done with occupational health in September, which said I was low enough risk to continue working for as long as I wanted as long as I was happy with the strategies in place in school. I was really happy with this initially but since the new lockdown and the “work from home” thing coming back in, I’m at a loss as to where I stand.

Long and short of it is, I can’t work from home. It’s not possible, at least not from now until my maternity leave starts at 38 weeks, but are measures such as wearing a visor and not going to staff meetings enough?

I’d be interested to know if anyone else is in this situation and if so, what your school is doing to minimise your risk?

Thanks in advance!

I’m wearing a mask when not teaching at the front. I had to buy my own surgical masks and my own hand sanitizer. A visor is pointless without a mask. There’s talk of me not being in class from 28 weeks but no firm plan in place which makes me anxious.

Unions will support you working from home from 28 weeks.

I teach YR/1 and was planning to work in class until maternity starts at 38 weeks at the start of December. Since the new lockdown our head has asked all vulnerable staff to work from home. Unions advise you should work from home from 28 weeks and I’ve found if teachers are still at school they are doing other roles away from everyone not in class.

Thanks for your replies!
It does seem working from home or at least away from the classroom is the norm from 28 weeks. I was going to be out of the classroom after Christmas but they left the advert for the job too late so unless the person who they appoint happens to be free from then, I won’t officially be out of the classroom until I’m 36 weeks. I also sent a list of “reasonable adjustments” to my head and she wasn’t too keen on me not attending staff meetings (I suggested I attend from my classroom through Teams but she’s worried about talking about vulnerable children on it). I feel really all over the place to be honest. I was happy just being in the classroom until 38 weeks originally but now I’m actually approaching 28 weeks and with the current situation being worse than it was in September, I’m starting to get a bit uneasy. So difficult!

Anyway, thanks all!

@emvy ask your midwife for advice.

My school is having no in person staff meetings at all. It’s not sensible to have all the staff together in one place right now!

@emvy I'm 31 weeks and still in class (primary). Wasn't nervous at all to begin with, but cases are creeping closer and closer to school. Just getting on with it as best I can and hoping I don't get Covid. I'm also struggling with work being so cold, and it's making my SPD flare up at the end of each day. Counting down the days til the Xmas holidays when I can start my mat leave.

@Glitterynails I know what you mean, I’m going to push it. I really don’t feel at all safe in the staff meeting and that’s what it has to come down to.

@Flatwhite32 it’s nice to hear of someone else still in class! I was starting to feel like I was the only (probably crazy) one. Do you have to have all your doors open? I don’t always have my door open, I tend to just stick to the windows. You’re so close though! Not long now! Best of luck with everything. Let me know if anything changes!