Teaching Mums and Mums-to-be

Hi

I'm in secondary school and currently 6 months pregnant. Not intending to leave until I'm nearly 38 weeks because of exam classes and I've been lucky having a really easy pregnancy (compared with others at school). The extra weight is starting to get to me now and I'm just having to adapt my lessons, especially as I rarely sit down during the day. I've just given up my break and lunch duties too, as I was going home aching on those days. Parents' evenings are an absolute killer though. My lessons now are tending to rely more on the text books, but it's no different to them having a learning manager or a supply teacher and at least they have the continuity of me knowing what they have done and where I want them to be by the time I leave.

I'm looking forward to the whole year with my baby. There are no relatives near enough or retired etc. to be able to help me with childcare, so I intend to go back for my 13 weeks full time, which will actually end during the summer hols next year and then go part time. I've already told my head of my plans in the hope that it gives us long enough to come up with a solution (I'm the only person who teaches my subject - so it's not just a simple staffing shuffle about). We'll have to wait and see what happens there...

T hat's great thanks x

Hello,
As far as I know you can claim your statutory maternity pay (SMP) and not have to pay it back. You also get 4 weeks at full pay and another 2 weeks of half pay - this is all I opted for as I wasn't sure if I was going back or not. After this you can claim another 12 weeks half pay which you do have to pay back if you don't return to work. I opted out of this so if/when I go back I'll get it as a bonus rather than them clawing it back from me.

I work in Derbyshire so it may be different in your area.
Try reading this document

http://www.teachers.org.uk/resources/pdf/MATERNITY_MATTERS_May_2006_edition.pdf

or the visit www.berr.gov.uk - and search for maternity entitlements.

Hope this helps. X

Hi i'm new to this group. Is there anyone on here who's not going back to work after baby is born? That's what i'm hoping to do. Just wondered if anyone knows if you have to pay back your maternity pay as i've had lots of differing opinions on here. I don't want to ask my work cos not even pregnant yet but i would like to know. Thanks x

Me and my big mouth.....finished work friday and gave birth before the evening was up! I should have stopped work earlier but hey-ho, longer time to be spent with my bundle of joy.

Hello,
Didn't realise there were so many teachers on this site! I thought I'd made a group that nobody would join.....how exciting!
35 weeks now - 1 week left at work and I'm really struggling. I think I should have stopped now as I'm a bit useless. The baby is 4/5 engaged and walking around in very difficult. I just want to be finished....but then again... it means I'm closer to giving birth.....AAAHHHH!! LOL. I don't want to leave my lovely kids with another teacher :-(
How are you getting on?

I am 5 months pregnant and am amazed at how helpful the kids can be. They are handing out the books and even pick things up from the floor, I don't bend so well in the middle. Their curiosity is wonderful and they seem genuinely interested so I'm happy to answer any of their questions.
Although it seems ok for now by Friday I was exhausted and that is just the end of the first week. I am wondering how I am going to manage when I get even bigger! I leave at Christmas so if anyone has any suggestions of how I can make it to the end of term please?!
Cheers
Sarahx

Hi. My little boy is 6.5 months now and i have just loved being at home with him, and i actually feel quite depressed at the thought of going back to work and leaving him in a nursery. this has been my dream come true and now i have to give it all up, for stressy days and only seeing my little boy for a few hours in the evening. When will i find time to do the endless paperwork that used to take up evenings and weekends???I am planning to do childminding or if i could find someone to do a baby share, i would consider going back part time. Either way, i have to go back full time from November until whenever i get released which is probably March. Just wondering how other full time teachers cope???