Are any teachers working up to 38 weeks?

I am also 34 weeks and I am the same hoping to go till May half term 🙏 everyone keeps telling me I won’t be able to do it but will help have more time on the other side so I think it will be worth it! I have a student atm who I am trying to get to take on more of the responsibility which SLT have said I can do as I have to finish school reports and data before I go!

I'm 33 weeks and due to finish at half term. I am primary - AHT and PPA across the school. Most of the week is fine but I do Thurs pm and all day Friday in Y1 which I found a real struggle this week with all the bending down and moving around. I'm telling myself 4 weeks to go with a bank holiday is only 19 more work days! 🫠😅 x

I worked up until 39 weeks had a week off before baby came was not to have the extra time once baby was born xx

I was based in the office for 2 weeks tho 37-39 weeks so wasn’t actually teaching as it was the start of the academic year my baby was born end of sept

I went up to 38 weeks, I had a kid take a chair to my duty spot towards the end 🤣x

I did, finished on Friday but if we didn’t have the Easter holidays I wouldn’t have made it that far. Also had a sick week because I was full of cold/flu symptoms so just had last week to survive. I’m also having a c section at 39 weeks so I’m not off for long x

I finished at 36.5 weeks, personally I was really ready by then and once I finished I was having a nap every day, however if you have someone to take some of your classes that may lighten the load. If you feel you can manage it then it should be feasible, just have strategies in place to support with fatigue 😊

With both my pregnancies my Mat Leave started at 38-39weeks.

It's a tiring time- but remembering you are doing it so you get more time when baby is here helped me.

Definitely ask for help as needed- listen to your body. Xx

In my last pregnancy I went up to 38 and it was fine for me (baby didn’t arrive until 42 though)

I worked up to 39 weeks and had my baby at exactly 40 weeks. So glad I pushed through though my teaching duties were a lot less in the last couple of weeks, I did leadership and interventions mostly and my mat leave cover fully took over my class. I don’t think I could have done my whole teaching timetable at that point!

I worked up to 2 days before my due date. Was hard at the end but v glad as baby is now overdue! Definitely ask to reduce duties/have your mat cover take on more if you're struggling

I’ll be almost 38 weeks when I leave next Friday! It’s a struggle working in EYFS but I’m almost there

Thank you all so much for your responses! I really appreciate it, x

I put my due date as my first day of maternity, but did have Easter hols so worked upto 38+ weeks and felt fine. I’m glad I did as baby was late and I got to spend more time with him

Good luck!x

this is what I am hoping for. Thank you so much x

I was due to go on Leave at 39+4 (last working day a Friday at 39+2), getting parents evening done the Wednesday and Thursday and the teacher taking over coming in for hand over/transition from the Tuesday... my LG had other plans and I left work the Monday (38+5) completely oblivious that I wouldn't be in the next day as labour started 6 hours later straight into regular contractions less than 5 minutes apart 😅 so my Mat Leave started the day after she was born and I wish I'd taken a week or so before. It does work out that I get an extra 5 days full pay from doing Shared Parental Leave because of how summer falls.