Pregnant and in a 'high risk' job. Anyone have experience?

[GoldenTiger]

Hi all.

I've just found out I'm pregnant, I'm a teacher in a very small school where children are often physically aggressive (kicking, slapping, hair pulling, biting, throwing/breaking objects). This is just part of the job and I accept that but now it's something I'm rightfully worried about.

I'm aware when I tell work ill have a risk assessment but has anyone been in this situation? Other schools linked with mine have the same physical aggression with the children so a job move wouldn't be appropriate. Were also very small team and only have 3 classes with 3 teachers and less than a handful of children in each class with 2 TAs who support between classes so being with someone at all times isn't an option either unfortunately.

Can anyone shed any light on their own experiences similar to mine? Ideally I'd have waited to tell them when I'm further along but due to the risk I'm having to tell them at 5 weeks.

Congratulations on your pregnancy! 💐 No experience of teaching but at the moment you (only) have a tiny embryo in a normal size uterus protected by your pelvis, so the risk of direct physical harm is minimal. Hopefully someone will be along soon with more useful advice!

I feel really sad that (mostly) women are expected to put up with the risk of physical harm in this vitally important yet underpaid and undervalued role. I don’t know what the answers are to managing this on a societal level, but it feels wrong.

Thank you for the reassurance, my first born is now 10 so this feels all new again!

It's frustrating when you're going into physical aggression daily but it's just part of the job and in my field, I understand why the children behave that way. Any other time it's just supporting them the best you can but obviously now I've got concerns regarding babies safety, but I think I needed the reminder of they're pretty safe in there 😊

Your work have a responsibility to keep you safe. If you wish to no longer be exposed to these events, especially as you get further along, they must provide provision for this - and if they can’t do so then they can medically suspend you. I’m a police officer so very different but I went onto restricted duties when pregnant.
I imagine you will be fine for the next couple of months but if I were you, the further along I got, I wouldn’t want to be dealing with those incidents with a big bump x

Not had direct experience, but i have a friend who had to go on desk duties in the fire service once pregnant.

I wouldn't necessarily want to be suspended in your shoes, as it might mean your mat leave starts earlier than you want - you probably want to request duties that dont involve direct contact with the children, so maybe planning/marking/office type work would be possible?

It's up to you, but I wouldn't agree with previous posters that youll be okay for a while - an injury at any point could be bad for you and even if it didnt harm the baby, if you needed any treatment or medication as a result your baby could be harmed. I'd want to be well away from any risk of harm straight away as its just not worth the risk!

Congratulations and I hope you have a lovely pregnancy!

Congratulations! No experience in schools but I do work as a custody sergeant so it’s often like dealing with children but adult sized children who hate the police. The assaults on police in custody is at a horrific level, I’ve been spat at in my face, kicked, bitten, pushed, punched and verbally abused.

I told my boss as soon as I found out I was pregnant in August because I wasn’t prepared to put myself or my baby at risk. I’ve been putting a role which is not very exciting at all, It’s basically answering emails all day, and doing custody admin work. Very very boring from my day to day job, I feel safer safe, On those days, I’m constantly feeling sick, My boss allows me to work from home with my laptop.

Don’t wait for your risk assessment, Especially if there’s any risk to you.

I worked for over a decade with violent primary children. (oh the tales I could tell!)

Violence is one thing but a more pressing concern would be if you were bitten by one of the children which might be a real possibility.

The moment that you inform your Employer of your pregnancy is the moment that they must under the law manage the risks related to your pregnancy. https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1999/3242/regulation/16
If the risks cannot be sufficiently mitigated then it is their responsibility to find an alternative role or suspend you on full pay.
The risk assessment should be reviewed and amended during your pregnancy as some risks may change depending stage of pregnancy, others may be present throughout. Are you in a union? Union H&S rep should be able to advise as well.

Hi,

I was/am in a similar situation to you. I work in a big primary school though which has helped. I told my headteacher at about 6 weeks pregnant (was in a bit of shock for a week or two as this wasn’t a planned pregnancy!) and am now nearly 33 weeks. I was signed off for sickness for most of the first trimester which helped. I did the last half term in the summer as cover in various different classes (away from the aggressive/violent children) and then it was the summer holidays. When I came back in September I got a fit note from the doctor which explicitly stated I was only fit to work if I was away from unsafe/violent situations. Fortunately my headteacher has been brilliant and I have been doing a non-teaching role since. I’ve been in an office doing planning, SEN paperwork, safeguarding meetings, assessments etc. Since I’ve been back after Oct half term, I’ve also been on reduced hours due to exhaustion. I really couldn’t have asked for more from my headteacher. The initial advice I was given from HR was to get signed off as I was planning to start my mat leave at 36 weeks anyway. However, my headteacher said that having me in the building in some way was much better for the school than if I wasn’t there at all. I’m also not sure how well I’d have coped at home for so long too!
It’s really tough, but if you don’t speak up, you’ll not know what can be arranged. The head has had to pay for a long term supply to cover me but I’ve been able to pick up workload from other staff to try to even things out. Hopefully something will be able to be sorted for you. Worst case scenario, you get signed off on full pay until 36 weeks. But most heads will want to support you in any way they can.
Good luck with it all!