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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.

Original poster

WFH 3rd Trimester

28 replies

Strawberry987 · 30/08/2021 10:21

Just wondering if anyone is planning on requesting to WFH in 3rd Tri?

If so how will you request / explain why you feel this is necessary? Or do you not think this will be needed for you and if so why not (I.e what precautions will you take)?

I'm extremely anxious, cases are surging in my area and my 3rd trimester is imminent.. but my head will likely be less than pleased about me asking.

In fact he doesn't seem to think he has any responsibility to help me distance at all as 'guidance has changed' when I asked questions about helping me distance in CPD.

I have advice from my union who said they will support help if needed but has anyone got any recent experience or worried about the same thing?

TIA xxxxx

OP posts:
AICM · 30/08/2021 16:23

What role do you have?

Original poster
Strawberry987 · 30/08/2021 16:41

I am a science teacher

OP posts:
AICM · 30/08/2021 17:19

I think you would to go into the head's office with a very clear idea of the what your contribution will be when WFH.

Good luck!

somuchcoffeeneeded · 30/08/2021 21:32

I WFH in my third trimester but it was during lockdown when school attendance was limited anyway. What is the RCOG guidance now?

JaffavsCookie · 31/08/2021 17:56

Sadly for you I think the head is correct and the current guidance is that you don’t need to wfh unless your school is really unsafe. They aren’t likely to agree that is the case though due to the obvious implications.

Seaswimmingdeservesasunnyday · 01/09/2021 05:45

Government, RCOG and all union guidance is that 28 weeks plus means should be working from home. My HT is extremely difficult but has basically agreed for me to WFH as I emailed and said that I wanted to follow the guidance. Social distancing will be impossible in school and is still recommended for women at 28 weeks plus. Union rep helped me to write an email.

Original poster
Strawberry987 · 01/09/2021 10:39

Thank you so much for your reply @Seaswimmingdeservesasunnyday. I have spoke to my union rep who said the same - that the DFE guidance is irrelevant when it comes to H&S of pregnant women and they will not be able to guarantee distancing in the classroom. They have to prove that there is no risk to me. I don't see how that's possible with children sitting in my class possibly with positive family members at home. It's a very small and poorly ventilated room too.

I do think people misread the guidance as actually even the general guidance for employers does say that 'All employers should consider both how to redeploy these staff and how to maximise the potential for homeworking, wherever possible.'

Happy he agreed for you :)

OP posts:
Seaswimmingdeservesasunnyday · 01/09/2021 20:49

I think the least a reluctant HT can do is a risk assessment. And that is likely to show that risks can't be removed.

jubbablub · 03/09/2021 04:29

My HR person spoke to the LA and they went through a risk assessment. Local Authority have said that I have to stay at home. I’m 33 weeks. It’s not really your head’s decision and having had covid 3 weeks ago despite having been double vaccinated, trust me, you want to avoid it while pregnant.

Youreatragedystartingtohappen · 04/09/2021 18:18

I've been told that HR are of the opinion I should be working from home from 28 weeks to minimise the risk of transmission.

I'll have it confirmed next week and update you

Timeandtidal · 09/09/2021 21:12

My head teacher is in complete denial about Coivd risks. I would be really grateful to hear abiut other's experience of being 28 weeks plus in school this term.
From what I gather, the majority of public facing jobs now have pregnant women WFH or redeployed from 28 weeks.
My classroom has tiny windows that barely let any air in... I really don't want go get Covid while pregnant

jubbablub · 09/09/2021 22:46

@Timeandtidal

My head teacher is in complete denial about Coivd risks. I would be really grateful to hear abiut other's experience of being 28 weeks plus in school this term. From what I gather, the majority of public facing jobs now have pregnant women WFH or redeployed from 28 weeks. My classroom has tiny windows that barely let any air in... I really don't want go get Covid while pregnant
Talk to your union rep and ask your local authority for their risk assessment for teachers who are >28 weeks. Your safety really has nothing to do with what your head’s opinions on covid are.
Original poster
Strawberry987 · 10/09/2021 06:50

I feel the saMe tide and tidal. I feel that his need to have me in for our alleged ofsted (I have a ML role) will stop him considering my safety. We are an outstanding school of many years expecting an inspection. Even if he doesn't say this directly. I am the only pregnant member of staff (as far as I know).

The pupils have been back since last Friday and I have already had children in my class who have positive family members at home. I know this is the guidance but it makes me feel unsafe. Does anyone else feel this way?

How would I get the local authority risk assessment? We are an academy - would it still protect me?

OP posts:
Timeandtidal · 10/09/2021 19:30

@Strawberry987

Sorry you find yourself in a similarsituatio. You could refer to this: www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-advice-for-pregnant-employees/coronavirus-covid-19-advice-for-pregnant-employees

Worth clicking on the link to RCOAM updated guidance and looking at the executive summary. It is a useful outline of the risks.

I don't know how to get LA RA but hopefully someone else can help with this

Timeandtidal · 10/09/2021 19:31

@jubbablub thanks

Yellowmellow2 · 10/09/2021 19:58

@Strawberry987

Just wondering if anyone is planning on requesting to WFH in 3rd Tri?

If so how will you request / explain why you feel this is necessary? Or do you not think this will be needed for you and if so why not (I.e what precautions will you take)?

I'm extremely anxious, cases are surging in my area and my 3rd trimester is imminent.. but my head will likely be less than pleased about me asking.

In fact he doesn't seem to think he has any responsibility to help me distance at all as 'guidance has changed' when I asked questions about helping me distance in CPD.

I have advice from my union who said they will support help if needed but has anyone got any recent experience or worried about the same thing?

TIA xxxxx

Are you double vaccinated?
Timeandtidal · 10/09/2021 22:14

@Yellowmellow2 sadly , it has been widely reported that being vaccinated does not stop people catching Covid. Is it now clinically proven that pregnant women are more likely to become more seriously ill if they catch covid than non pregnant women. Pregnant women who do get Covid and work in public facing roles are at higher risk of being hospitalised from Covid. Covid in third trimester doubles risk of still birth. It is all laid out very clearly in the RCOAM advice which was updates last month. In most public facing jobs pregnant women are automatically still WFH or away from public from 28 weeks but not in teaching. Obviously we would much rather be with our students but we need a proper risk assessment which takes account of the above.

jubbablub · 10/09/2021 22:28

[quote Timeandtidal]@Strawberry987

Sorry you find yourself in a similarsituatio. You could refer to this: www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-advice-for-pregnant-employees/coronavirus-covid-19-advice-for-pregnant-employees

Worth clicking on the link to RCOAM updated guidance and looking at the executive summary. It is a useful outline of the risks.

I don't know how to get LA RA but hopefully someone else can help with this[/quote]
My school business manager (who sorts out our HR and health and safety stuff) got in contact with the LA and did this for me.

Original poster
Strawberry987 · 11/09/2021 18:57

@jubbablub I will do that next week. Can I ask what the advice was in your LA risk assessment?

Does it matter if the school is an academy - or do they still have to consider what the LA says?

Thank you for the info

OP posts:
jubbablub · 11/09/2021 19:21

[quote Strawberry987]@jubbablub I will do that next week. Can I ask what the advice was in your LA risk assessment?

Does it matter if the school is an academy - or do they still have to consider what the LA says?

Thank you for the info [/quote]
I have no idea. I emailed the business manager and she said the local authority had judged that for me, working from home was the best option. We’re a state school, so academies might be different.

GJW2018 · 05/10/2021 04:51

Hi, we are an independent academy and my Head is adamant I will be working up to due date. I’m a Reception teacher and can’t see any way of being able to socially distance from the little ones. I’m extremely anxious about being around all of the kids and adults in my third trimester. I’m going to reach out to my union is there anything else I can do? It seem so unfair as my friend is a reception teacher in another school and they’ve already said it’s not safe and she’s to work from home from 28 weeks, annoying that the guidance isn’t the same for all and can be interpreted differently. Any help would be appreciated. Thank you

Ivy83 · 05/10/2021 18:46

I hit the third trimester the day before the summer holidays so didn’t return to work in September as I was ‘deep’ in the third trimester. I feel very fortunate my school (a Nursery School) didn’t question me being at home as I cannot socially distance and I only started my mat leave this week (I’ll be 39 weeks this week).

If you are in the NEU they updated the guidance in the summer and I forwarded the guidance to my Head and they didn’t query it. neu.org.uk/advice/high-risk-groups

If you are in a Union I would ask for their support as the most important thing is you and your baby. There is a template letter on that link to use to ask to wfh. I was told if I couldn’t work from home I could be medically suspended on full pay but we all felt I would be more use to be at home but working. I’ve completed planning, updated policies and completed the safeguarding audit so I have still be working and useful!

There is also a helpful template letter on the Pregnant then Screwed website. pregnantthenscrewed.com/covid-19/write-to-your-employer-risks-for-pregnant-women/

I think we are so used to just getting on with things and don’t naturally put ourselves first but if there is one time we can it is now! Hope this helps.

HobnobbingAboutHobnobs · 05/10/2021 19:16

I tentatively raised the issue with the school business manager who also has responsibility for RAs etc, and was told by email that guidance has changed, CEV staff are currently being asked to attend the workplace and if I became ill for any reason (including covid) then my maternity leave will start. As far as I'm concerned, that's a mix of irrelevant, unhelpful and frankly wrong information, and will not be having any conversations about the issue that aren't attended by my union rep. I know for a fact that a pregnant teacher at another school in our MAT has worked from home since 28 weeks, why is it so unthinkable that I should be offered that option?

chocolateisavegetable · 05/10/2021 19:34

In case it helps - I work with a teacher who will be in her third trimester in December, and has been told by the HT that she will be WFH from that point. I don't know why there is so much conflicting information - but obviously contact your union.

Timeandtidal · 06/10/2021 17:46

It feels very much down to HTs/business managers' interpretation of the (intentionally?) woolly guidance.

I've just been told I can wear a maskand open my classroom window and door. I'm happy to do both these things but given that my school currently have a Covid19 outbreak in two year groups doesn't make me feel too safe. I have been vaccinated so just hope if I get it, it isn't too bad. Roll on mat leave

Good luck @GJW2018 - let us know how you get on.