stressed at work

[dappymoo]

I'm a teacher of teenage special needs children and I love it, but am really struggling at the moment. I'm 25 weeks pregnant which I know isn't too far along and there isn't actually that long until the holidays, but I've had to take the day off today because my head is spinning and I'm just so exhausted and fed up, to be honest. I ache everywhere and am so run down.

My class need a lot of support and one pupil can get quite agressive, and we are often understaffed meaning I have to get involved if anything does kick off. Most days I have to fight to get the correct amount of staff in my room in order to get everything done, and even then it can be difficult. The staff I have are amazing, but I do think that management take advantage of the fact that we get on with things and cope, and they don't seem to have taken into account the fact that I'm pregnant and we are understaffed...
I don't really know what I'm asking here, just feel crap.

[dappymoo]

update:
Finally someone spoke to me.... odd that it has taken so long and a few days for anyone to mention or even ask about my absence... but anyway!

Basically management can argue their way out of a paper bag can't they?

I'm wondering if I really have it in me to fight management (still no risk assess but I'm sure they can blame that on me somehow...) so am thinking my best bet for my own sanity might be to just get signed off for the last few weeks...

Sad really, but I am in no state to be playing their weird games, and if they're going to play the system with their management talk perhaps I should do the same...

[carolondon]

I am also a teacher and they did a risk assessment as soon as i told them i was pregnant. I was then sent to occupational health to discuss my situation (i am a dance teacher). This was all very helpful and reassuring. I think your school are being negligent in not supporting you this way and may be on dodgy ground legally. I don't know but they may have invalidated their insurance if they haven't done a RA.
Please don't even consider getting involved in physically restraining a pupil whilst pregnant. It is the schools responsibility to deal with this.
Really glad to hear you are making a stand and i hope they now deal with the situation more responsibly.

[nymphadora]

I can't believe they don't have something in place prior to you being pg tbh. You can't be the first. My old school averaged 1 a term and the RA would just be edited for that persons time table. Certain kids automatically off limits.

Where I currently work( not schools) I was the only person experienced enough to work with a certain child who has challenging behaviour & as soon as I told my boss he was off limits & I was replaced by 2 staff( I was lone working).

[dappymoo]

I wrote a massive long email the other day saying it was unacceptable and have taken a couple of days off as it was just getting to me too much.
Going back on Monday so I'll see what they say.... thanks for the support feguys, I do feel justified but still a bit worried that I've made things awkward x

[Ryuk]

Aren't they legally required to send you home (and still pay you) if your risk assessment result is that you can't safely do the job? I had a pregnant friend who was signed off immediately because there was no way she could avoid heavy lifting in her job, so her employer had to just draft in a replacement and send her home on pay.

[jbakedbean]

they should do a risk assessment as soon as you tell them you are pregnant. if it is affecting your health the doctor may well sign you off anyway. It is very suprising that they have let you continue without adequate support and they are putting themselves at risk of negligence, not just for you and your unborn but also for the other children. This requires serious action on their part very quickly and you need to lay it down for them in no uncertain terms that the current situation is unacceptable.

[nymphadora]

Did you get sorted?

[Sal321]

Talk to your GP - they may not think that this stress and work environment is appropriate for you.

[nymphadora]

I used to work in a SN school and once a memeber of staff got pregnant they got removed from this situation. They had a v comprehensive RA that covered specific behaviours and specific interventions. Also covered moving & handling.

Restraints are going to be difficult anyway as your balance will be off and could make the situation worse.

[RunningGuerita]

dappymoo Nothing constructive to add to samsoncat except that I feel for you (and can relate, am 26 weeks myself). Do what you can to look after yourself esp. in the evenings and the weekends and take it easy when you can. Hang in there.

[dappymoo]

I need to ask for a risk assessment you're right, maybe it's an oversight but I'd love to know who they think is going to work with this pupil...

[samsonthecat]

Have you asked for a risk assessment? You must not get involved in physically restraining pupils when you are pregnant and your school should know that.