Help and advice please! When to start ML?

[claresp]

Hi everyone. I'm really struggling to decide when to start ML and need to let my employer know after half term. I'm due in March and was originally planning to go for Feb half term (36 weeks) but the other option is Christmas (28 weeks). I'm a secondary school teacher and mid term isn't really an option. I've scoured discussion boards and can see that most people go as late as possible to gain more time with the baby after, but I'm nervous about how my pregnancy is going to go. I'm 41, exhausted and dealing with back pain already (where's the second trimester burst of energy?!). The job can be pretty stressful and draining. I'm also a bit anxious about COVID, and very anxious about my horrible commute (40 minute drive each way in winter dark and bad weather). Help! Please can anyone advise?

As late as you can so you don't miss out on time with the baby. If you came off at 26 weeks you'd have not much time at all.

With my first I worked up to two weeks before the due date and now I'm 7.5 months pregnant I finish up next week so 5 weeks earlier which I actually think is maybe a touch too soon but I can't be arsed with work ATM

Honestly I would still try and work until Feb half term / 36 weeks. 28 weeks is very early and I think you would end up regretting not having longer with your baby prior to returning to work. Though I completely appreciate it's exhausting. I am 37 and had my second baby in the summer, worked until 36 weeks (NHS) so I feel your pain. How long are you taking off?

I’m due Christmas Day and going to try and work until 17th dec to make the most of my maternity leave.

I wouldn’t go off after Christmas if I was you (unless finances are not an issue). There is nothing stopping you from leaving mid way through the half term though. It isn’t your problem - it’s the schools! Have the got your maternity cover sorted already?

I work in education and I’m currently WFH as I’m beyond 28 weeks pregnant.
This is the guidance from our LA and joint union advice as well.
Are you a member of a union? Might be worth a chat to your rep if you are.
Being able to WFH has meant that I have set my maternity leave start date as the week of my due date (the Sunday before as it always has to start on a Sunday) which has given me 2 weeks more normal pay than I would have done if I was working in school.
Also, you can start your maternity leave whenever you want, it doesn’t have to be at a designated half term! I started WFH mid term and they organised my replacement to start the day I wasn’t in.

I’m a secondary school teacher and of course mid term is an option! As it happened, I went at a holiday with 1 and 2 but in the middle of term with number 3.

36 weeks with number one
39 weeks with number two (September so did the inset day and then went off, in reality finished at 33 weeks)
39+6 with number 3, taught until the end, finished the end of January.

But yes, feb half term would be perfect - remember to start it the day you are due to go back!

I started both my leaves at 39 weeks to have more time after the birth (my maternity package is the sh*est ever)

Thanks for these replies. Mummytooneprincess I'm hoping I can afford to take a whole year off. ImStayingInside - working from home would solve my travel worries. How are you managing this? Are you teaching online or do you have a different role? It's reassuring to hear that mid term is an option. I guess part of being a teacher is always feeling guilty that you are letting someone down!

Also pregnant teacher, currently 35 weeks and been WFH since start of third trimester (LA guidance rather than my choice). I'd speak to your union rep and find out if your school is following this guidance and if so do mat leave until Feb half term.

In terms of what I'm doing - SOW, paperwork, department development plans etc. All boring as sin but much reduced risk!

I am working on resources and lesson planning for my department.
I also have a whole school responsibility for an online revision tool that student use, so I am continuing to be the main contact for that for staff, students and parents via email.
I’m not the only 3rd tri staff member WFH in my school either.
I was informed by my union rep of the advice and they spoke to the head on my behalf and got it sorted for me, I was informed by HR that I would not be expected in school from 28 weeks, but would be expected to WFH taking direction from my head of department.

Thank you both. I am going to investigate this and see if it's possible for me too - would feel so much more secure.

You should be wfh under Covid guidelines and your school has really been negligent not pointing this out to you.

It isn’t something to investigate or ask nicely about, it needs to happen.

As teachers we don’t put ourselves first often enough. This is one of those times to really advocate for yourself and your baby.

Hopefully you can get it sorted.
Here’s the NEU advice to get you started: neu.org.uk/advice/coronavirus-and-pregnancy

Thank you

Fellow public sector worker here and totally understand the way you feel about leaving half way through a term, but the last trimester of pregnancy is such a small amount of time in the grand scheme of your whole working life and its not your fault the systems we work in are so stretched, its a political choice by those in government who want to run our public services on a shoe string and avoid putting up taxes.

Personally I am choosing to continue f2f working until 34 weeks but I wear an FFP3 mask all day at work now that I'm over 24 weeks (not comfortable but it's not for long and at least I am safer now covid rates are so high). Then I will wfh until 37 weeks, have 2 weeks annual leave and start mat leave 6 days before my due date.

Cleaner here... Worked til the Friday 35 weeks. Went for a check up on the Monday and had an emcs!!
Guess that was ml started!!

Where are all the people currently working from home based?

My union has not advised this and I’m with one of the big ones!

North West of England.
NEU and NASUWT have joint advice about WFH past 28 weeks.
I am a member of NEU and I am good friends with the NAS rep in my school, so know that advice is the same from both unions.

I’m in Yorkshire and union rep just said to make sure extra precautions are taken!

I can’t find anything in the nasuwt current guidance either. It just says if extra precautions can’t be taken wfh should be an option. It is infuriating that there are such inconsistencies. I am 31 weeks and cases in our area amongst school age children age sky high.

www.nasuwt.org.uk/advice/health-safety/coronavirus-guidance/full-reopening-of-schools/full-reopening-of-schools-england/pregnancy-maternity-covid-19-pandemic-england/pregnant-teachers-third-trimester-covid-england.html

Another teacher here - secondary ICT. I am 22 weeks currently so hoping to get to Feb half term. Same as others have said there is totally the option to go at half term ! Heck even midweek is fine if that's what you choose!

Those who have had LA guidance to WFH please could you advise how you found out what your LA is suggesting? Another teacher has asked our headteacher what the advice was from our LA and they were not beat pleased to be being asked ! We are in the midlands and in the area rates are high and rising. I still don't know the answer the other lady got but she is much further on than me and due before Christmas.

I was informed by my rep in the staff room and he did all of the leg work on my behalf.
I didn’t have to do anything, just got an email from HR to confirm the date I was 28 weeks and was told that I would not be expected in work after this date and would be directed to WFH by my head of department.

I'm north west of England too and my employer, while supportive, has never mentioned WFH as an option. I am definitely going to ask if this is a possibility from 28 weeks. I don't see how they can guarantee it's safe at school. I keep windows and door open but have classes of over thirty. Students wear masks in between lessons but school are considering removing this and so many students now say that they are exempt anyway.

Yup sadly it doesn’t actually say anywhere that teachers should be working from home. It just says a more precautionary approach should be taken.

It’s shite, fuzzy guidance.

My HR person (school business manager) rang the local authority (large city in NW England) and they confirmed that I needed to work from home from 28 weeks. Finished for mat leave at 37+6 (three weeks ago). Wish I’d left it another week as I’m still bloody pregnant