Pregnant teacher - when to tell head teacher.

[bee756]

Hi,

I am a primary school teacher and I am just over 5 weeks pregnant. This is my first pregnancy and I have no idea when I should tell my head teacher that I am pregnant. She is very supportive.
Is it important to tell someone early with working in a school. I am also unsure if I need to state this for the Covid risk assessments.

Thanks for any advice

Legally I think it's 25 weeks for employers. I'm a nursery nurse and told my managers at 6ish weeks for a number of reasons. They were very supportive and obviously didn't tell anyone else.

I told my work around 6 weeks as I needed time off for the booking appointment at 8 weeks and then obviously for scans etc, so maybe think about that?

If you have a good relationship I find it’s best to tell headteachers as soon as you’re comfortable to so they can start prepping for your mat leave. Also for risk assessing and being aware of your pregnancy so they can best protect you.

@Lzgs

If you have a good relationship I find it’s best to tell headteachers as soon as you’re comfortable to so they can start prepping for your mat leave. Also for risk assessing and being aware of your pregnancy so they can best protect you.

Thank you so much! I think I will let her know early just even for the comfort of someone knowing.

I also told my manager early - I'm just in a office based job but felt better telling her so I could have time off for appointments, glad I did as Severe morning sickness kicked in a few weeks later. Pregnancy is a protected characteristic so felt much happier knowing I'd told them.

They will need to do you a risk assessment (especially now with covid) so best to tell them early. I had a VERA this time, which is a vulnerable employee risk assessment, to determine if any tweaks needed doing to my role. The head also wanted to get my maternity cover sorted early in case I have to work from home after 28 weeks which I’m still waiting on confirmation of (early primary so no hope of social distancing!

not a teacher but told my manager at 7-8 weeks as felt so poorly (just normal morning sickness and sheer exhaustion) and thought it would be best. even if something happened i wouldn't want to explain to him if it went wrong.

Haven't officially told HR yet - will do when i get past my 20 week scan

First pregnancy 24 weeks (legally have to by 25), second pregnancy 10 weeks due to timetabling implications for September. Basically it's up to you as long as it's before 25 weeks.

I'd let the HT know when we return at the start of term. If you have hyperemesis you might need some time off for example. When I had my babies I wasn't a teacher and would have really struggled with the constant sickness and vomiting I had if I was in the classroom. There are also implications for risk assessments. Good luck with the pregnancy.

Teachers have different maternity rules to “normal jobs” and the risks are greater. Check with your union on the normal practice

I'm secondary and told my HOD and the head at 6 weeks, turns out it was needed as I was extremely unwell with HG and needed support. By the end of term I was running out of the classroom to vomit and I would have probably been called in to talk about it had they not been aware.

I also told our HR administrator, I was signed off work for a couple of week around 10 weeks and it made it easier not having to be vague with why

I told work @ 20 weeks first time and 25 w second time. Didn't want to draw it out.

Reception teacher here. Currently 10+5 and will tell the head (if still pregnant) at start of term.

Is the 28w work from home still a thing?

I’m a teacher and told mine at about 7 weeks. She’s supportive and was expecting it I think! Plus time off for appointments is really tricky as a teacher, and you need to be careful around certain childhood infections etc so it helps to have all that in place.

Another bonus of telling your Head early is if you do any playground duty, as you won't want footballs kicked around you! Anything you tell the Head can be confidential, if you make it clear, such as saying something like "I'd like to tell you in confidence that...".
I hope you get a good rest over the summer hols! Congratulations!!!

I'm a sixth form science teacher and told my HOD at 5 weeks due to chemicals being used for practicals etc. But told everyone else at 12 weeks.

I waited until my 12 week scan but they were normal times so the risk assessment was slightly different.