Pregnant yrs R, 1 and 6 teachers..

[booklover164]

Anyone concerned after Boris' announcement? I'm currently teaching 6 and concerned that we'll be expected to go in soon. I imagine after the 12 weeks is up but I'm still terrified!

"it's on that letter in the annex"

Eh?! The annex is all about extremely vulnerable people ie shielding category and only mentions pregnant women with heart conditions.

I am sorry for those that are so anxious.

If it’s at all reassuring, I work in a specialist setting for very vulnerable primary children, mostly aged 8 and younger. We have been open throughout for a limited number of children. There is absolutely no Social Distancing happening and no PPE.
Nobody - adults or children has got sick so far.

As an asthmatic, and part of the flu jab group, I was told to do so for 12 weeks asking with diabetic colleagues. Pregnancy was / is on that list. They don't know enough about pregnancy as yet however. Pregnancy is a different situation too as, all being healthy, a pregnant woman would move into the more risk category in the last trimester.

At the time of that letter they still hadn't published information about the extremely vulnerable group for shielding.

It's on the annex.

I'm following what I was told by my head and by the government.

Fair point, yes it was outlined in the annex of the letter - that extremely vulnerable people including pregnant women with heart conditions (but not all pregnant women).

It was said in a briefing. This was a thread just afterwards.

The original document outlining who was withdrawn on the 1st May.

Adults who require a flu jab for any chronic illness to self-isolate for 12 weeks www.mumsnet.com/Talk/coronavirus/3850390-Adults-who-require-a-flu-jab-for-any-chronic-illness-to-self-isolate-for-12-weeks

If you are happy to work and go in that's fine; there's no competition here and antenatal anxiety can be very serious. I had it. It was shit.

This is the updated guidance which hasn't changed for the flu group (and pregnancy) or the shielding group. There's just no date stamp on it.

www.gov.uk/government/publications/full-guidance-on-staying-at-home-and-away-from-others/full-guidance-on-staying-at-home-and-away-from-others

I stayed working as a nurse up until 28weeks, quite a few in my department are expecting, we are to work in lower risk areas. It’s understood unless ur 3rd trimester or other health conditions u work in nhs, hopefully in teaching ur risks are a little lower?

I would have thought teachers would have better reading comprehension skills but there you go

R, y1 and y6 will by no means be the only teachers going in. This will be shared between all staff on a rota, I can't see how it can possibly work otherwise. Also, staff will get ill and need cover. Even from other illnesses! Plus key worker kids will be in too.

Don't forget there's lots of ifs and maybes.

The most up-to-date guidance is here:

www.gov.uk/government/publications/full-guidance-on-staying-at-home-and-away-from-others/full-guidance-on-staying-at-home-and-away-from-others#eel-decline

The final section deals with 'clinically vulnerable people', which includes all pregnant women, and all over 70s.

Like the guidance it replaces, it does not specify any timeframe for these people.

This version simply states
"If you have any of the following health conditions, you are clinically vulnerable, meaning you are at higher risk of severe illness from coronavirus. You should take particular care to minimise contact with others outside your household."

It is completely separate from the guidance for those who have received shielding letters, which is here:
www.gov.uk/government/publications/guidance-on-shielding-and-protecting-extremely-vulnerable-persons-from-covid-19/guidance-on-shielding-and-protecting-extremely-vulnerable-persons-from-covid-19

I believe Union advice came out too for pregnancy. The 12 week thing was a verbal instruction in the briefing.

Apologies for X-post - slow typing.

I am covered by another section of the 'clinically vulnerable' list, do not teach Year 6, and have not been doing the 'childcare' that has been running continuously in school throughout lockdown. However, I have made it clear that I am happy to return to be on the 'rphased opening' staffing rota. Unions, however, would almost certainly support anyone wishing to wfh if in the vulnerable group.

There's no date stamp on the shielding either, though I know it was on their letters.

There'll be more details tomorrow I guess as heads can't plan with this guidance.

I'm going to watch more of the delightful film I'm watching, contagion.

Ifpregnant yr/y1/Y6 staff are expected in schools on 1st June, I'll be a week and a half shy of 3rd trimester. Will that mean I go back for 1.5 weeks then off again as back to high risk?! God knows!

Will anyone else here be in 3rd trimester when the phased return starts (conditionally of course).

There is no differentiation by trimester in the Gov.uk documents. The only pregnant women deemed to be 'extremely vulnerable' (ie the shielding group) are "Women who are pregnant with significant heart disease, congenital or acquired."

The others, in any trimester, are in the 'clinically vulnerable' group, who are simply advised to take particular care.

Well minimal contact with those outside your household hardly includes 30kids all day does it?

@butIwontdothat on the official death rate stats from the ons.
More under 45s have died from suicide this year than Coronavirus. Honestly there is a fair amount of hysteria and a fundamental misunderstanding of risk.

In the RCOG occupational health guidelines for pregnant women, the recommendations for pregnant HCPs differentiate between pre and post 28 weeks:
www.rcog.org.uk/globalassets/documents/guidelines/2020-04-21-occupational-health-advice-for-employers-and-pregnant-women.pdf
(See 3.2 & 3.3)

So will we split classes into half? If we do that, then Year 5 and 6 teachers teach Year 6, Nursery and Reception teachers teach Reception and Year One and Two teachers teach Year One.

Which leaves Year 3 and 4 teachers to plan and post all online material for Years 2, 3, 4, 5 and Nursery. Hmmmmm...

Yes I'm sure. The unions take their responsibilities towards workers very seriously and have gone further than government or LA guidance in relation to vulnerable groups.

This is from the NEU...

neu.org.uk/coronavirus-what-you-need-know-pregnancy-and-maternity

@AnotherEmma these guidelines say 'advice for healthcare workers', so I wonder if it can be used for any profession? I hope so. I'd love to go back if the risk was small but I just don't want to take any chances being nearly 33 weeks pregnant by then.

Well I suppose the risk to HCPs must be higher than many other jobs. Based on what we know so far, anyway, which is not enough!

@farfallarocks
You're trying to compare the incomparable.
Death by choice, is just that. Besides - are you trying to ignore the fact that being in lockdown hasn't had an impact on that number?
You are intitled to your opinion - as I am.
I am not willing to be a part of a stealthy herd immunity approach, especially by people who have no idea of how impractical it will be to practise social distancing in YR and YR1.
I would feel more confident on a decision made that is based on science, facts and researched evidence.