Attending antenatal appointments

I know as a teacher in the UK your employer has to let you attend all the hospital appointments, but where do I stand with them asking me to rearrange these for outside school time? If not possible they do still let me go but has anyone else been asked to do this? Also, have your school covered you for these appointments or has your school left your class with no cover?

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I would say no as you are entitled to all appointments! I would always try to arrange my midwife appointments during my PPA just for ease but any hospital scan or consultant appointments I wouldn’t even attempt to rearrange! Xx

Mine have all come in the morning, and first they asked to arrange for the afternoon so we can swap PPAs around, then they’ve said to try and arrange them after school. I feel guilty because I know whenever I’m out the rest of the team (early years) are left short

I would try and arrange my midwife appointments for the afternoon so I could leave when the children did but other appointments I would just tell school when they were and cover would be arranged. Most appointments you are just given the time so it’s not like you can arrange them or you’re doing it on purpose. I would speak to your union if it becomes an issue but they should just let you go now questions asked and they arrange cover x

I was never asked to rearrange any appointments and my classes were covered with no questions asked This is really poor of your school!

I was never asked to rearrange mine. I don't think they can technically ask you to rearrange them to a time that suits you.

I’ve looked on NEU and they technically can ask you to arrange your appointments for the start or end of the day but the cover thing is driving me mad, it’s not fair!!

Are you even able to rearrange your appointments? I know if I tried to rearrange mine they give me 1 alternative (I’d have no say in the date or time) and then they don’t offer a 3rd!

@Sophie me too totally agree really unsupportive xx

@Halah by cover I mean someone physically taking my place, they expect the other teachers to give up PPA in order to cover me

If they’re expecting other teachers to give up their PPA to cover you for planned absence that’s against the workload agreement and the teachers who are being asked should take it up with their union. It’s not for you to worry about.

Appointments during your PPA?? Nope. I wouldn’t agree to that.

I was never asked to rearrange, they've been pretty accommodating but I do teach sixth form so it's less stress for them to cover. I try and get them out of school time out of courtesy for midwife / at a time which minimises cover but for hospital (of which I've had many) as long as I've shown the letter they've just sorted it. My cover manager was incredible though so I think that made a difference!