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Whether you're a permanent teacher, supply teacher or student teacher, you'll find others in the same situation on our Staffroom forum.

Early pregnancy and return to work

2 replies

glowingtwig · 12/08/2020 11:10

Hi everyone,

I'm looking for advice here (all the other threads I've found on staff room have been about later pregnancy...)

I'm pregnant but very early (I'll be 8 + weeks when we return in September) and I'm in a bit of a quandary about when to disclose the pregnancy and what to expect from my school (a very large secondary). I'll also be a high risk pregnancy after a serious complication after DC was born10 months ago and also have had an early mc previously so feel funny about sharing the news too soon.

I know from being in school for the last two weeks of the summer term after my maternity leave ended that neither staff or key worker children have properly socially distanced at all. People sharing office spaces despite the risk assessments saying not to and people and kids coming close, definitely not keeping a 2m distance. Cleaning is also woeful.

The guidance that I have read from the NEU sounds much more strict than others have experienced in practice (from reading other threads) - they seem to suggest very strict social distancing or to wfh and I'm not sure that either of these will be adhered to or allowed.

My plan at the moment (provided the pregnancy sticks around) is:

  • disclose the pregnancy to my union rep and ask advice
  • speak to GP about previous complication and my increased risk (I'll be consultant-led care)

I'm not sure what else to do?

An added issue is that having requested part time hours (not signed contract yet) I now need to go back full time due to DH's hours being cut significantly due to Covid. We won't manage to pay the mortgage for a second maternity leave if I don't.

Any advice would be so welcome as I was awake half the night fretting about it.

OP posts:
Hercwasonaroll · 12/08/2020 20:45

I can't advise re part time hours at all sorry. If timetables etc are done though I'm not sure that would go down brilliantly. Did you agree to anything verbally?

Disclose to your head and ask them to remain quiet. You need extra protection and they can't give it you if they don't know. I'd probably have emailed them by now but make it explicit you don't want the information shared.

Winter21 · 25/08/2020 17:31

Congratulations 😊

I'm also in a very similar position and wondering what to do. I've just found out and will be 6 weeks when we start back in September. I don't want to tell the head yet as I won't have even told close family but am slightly concerned about having a class of 30 year 1s with no social distancing within our bubble. If I am going to disclose it, do I do it via email before we go back? (Which I definitely don't feel comfortable doing) or do I wait until the inset day? If it wasn't for Covid, I wouldn't be telling anyone until nearer 12 weeks.

Have you made a decision yet?

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