Pregnant teachers, are you being looked after?

[SenoraSurf]

Just found out we're expecting dc2.
I teach science in a secondary and am a little worried about the support they'll have in place in current conditions. We're teaching all over the school as per the rest of the country no doubt. I struggled being based in my classroom during my last pregnancy let alone being everywhere!

Just looking for some stories and advice about how you're coping under current working conditions please.

My school didn't even do a RA last time so I doubt anything will change anyway.

Thanks

29 weeks and school only just did a RA despite knowing since 4 weeks (I let tgem know asap as it was during lockdown and advice for pregnant staff was not to go in).

Although many other schools have told staff in 3rd trimester to WFH my school has not done the same. RA states that it is my responsibility to ensure I distance from staff and pupils by 2m (as per covid advice) and that I wash my hands regularly. As a music teacher in a very practical-driven department, the 2m distancing basically means my teaching goes to shit as I can't effectively model for pupils or correct mistakes easily.

Pupils are also awful at distancing themselves from me, so I don't feel safe (or think its fair that it is totally my responsibility to be distanced).

Union guidance is to WFH after 28 weeks but as they are also calling for lockdown of schools nobody is really taking them seriously at the moment. I am going to speak to my midwife tomorrow and see what she says. My mat cover has already started (just observing/doing cover around school until I go) so there is no reason why the school can't ask me to WFH.

Don't feel particularly looked after though, no.

Not at all, no social distancing in place.
Was given a visor that is so awful and steams up constantly.
In primary, so the children find it hard to understand. I don’t even want to tell the children yet.
Not had a RA yet despite asking.
I’m going to look at Pregnant then Screwed for some advice, because I don’t feel very safe.

Our school is allowing women in third trimester to wfh

31 weeks and just cracking on as normal. Nothing else I can do really. Just washing my hands more etc.

@HopeWish that sounds so frustrating. I imagine in a music department there is quite a lot of aerosolising activity (singing, playing brass or wind instruments etc) so I would definitely try to explain that to your midwife and see if you can get her to advocate for you to WFH or at least out of the classroom until Mat Leave.

I'm a Reception teacher, I'm now just about 31 weeks and have been WFH since the week before half term. (Was due to be from half term, when I turned 28 weeks, but we had our first Covid case in school the week before so I went early.) Even before that I have been working out of the classroom since September, doing small group / 1:1 interventions. School have been really good - but to be fair, only because I expressed my anxieties early on and brought their attention to Union guidance. In my experience you need to be a little bit proactive - of course your school will want you there and probably haven't really considered the implications for pregnancy. Once you set out a clear case for the risks (and mention the magic word 'union') it's pretty hard for all but the most heartless of SLTs not to make any concessions. No one wants that decision on their hands if something does go wrong.

@3ormorecharacters

I had a MW appointment today and asked her advice which was a very firm I should be working from home. Let my HoD know immediately who went straight to headteacher with it and their response - no they will not let me work from home full stop.

I feel incredibly let down by my school and their inability to acknowledge risk to pregnant staff (other staff members have also raised concerns). And I made sure to mention the union, head doesn't care.

I am considering asking GP to sign me off due to stress as I am now constantly worrying about being in the school environment and it isn't healthy for me...

@HopeWish that's awful, I'm so sorry your school.are not being supportive. It's so unfair how different it is for everyone. Good luck with your GP. Maybe get in touch with your union and see if they can help?

Oh HopeWish that’s utterly disgusting. I would go to Union but also go to GP and get signed off, stress really is not good for either you or baby.
I’m dreading what my headteacher is going to say. I’m only 15 weeks so no idea what I’m meant to do. I’m support staff so only have small groups in a small space. Absolute nightmare.
I wish the DOE would give some decent, clear guidelines taking science and royal college of midwives advice into consideration.

Actually hopewish there is a template letter on pregnant then screwed I’m going to use addressed to the head about how we should be protected or suspended on full pay if they can’t

Thanks @LemonadeLocomotive.

The problem is my head will say that I can be kept 2m away from everyone else because I am responsible for that (and it is not their responsibility if I can't be kept 2m away at all times!).

It's ridiculous but that's the situation. I've contacted union rep, will see what they say.

Keep us posted, I can’t see how it can be wholly your responsibility but then you can’t argue with idiots

It IS your employer’s job to make sure risks are eliminated or reduced. If they say social distance and you say it’s not possible then they need to make it happen! They’ve show they don’t care about you so you shouldn’t care about going off sick. I’m also a pregnant teacher and the whole thing is very stressful. Email about your medical advice from midwife being to WFH and ask head to confirm they are going against medical advice. Their tune might change when you ask for it in writing (makes dodgy ground for them for future legal or HR claims against them).

All staff who are classed as vulnerable at our primary school have had a risk assessment and it is reviewed monthly. Pregnant women in their third trimester have been told to work from home and some have actually been reluctant to do this but have done so anyhow. It’s about protecting everyone, staff, children and visitor. We haven’t taken anything lightly at our school and have gone above and beyond government advice to protect everyone in our school community.

It's so surprising how much everything ranges from person to person. Sorry to read so many of you are having to deal with unnecessary added stress.

I was told to isolate by track and trace today (colleague on desk opposite me tested positive) and my school told me I had to come in and work as normal. Total shambles and I haven't even told them I'm pregnant yet in order to add that to the mix!

@SenoraSurf your school directed you to break the law? Wow.