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Pregnancy loss and termination

Support for teachers and support staff in schools and colleges experiencing pregnancy loss or termination.

 

pregnancy loss - woman hugging another

The rights of teachers and support staff who experience a pregnancy loss or baby loss - to privacy and dignity at work, safe and fair working arrangements, and appropriate time off work - are frequently disregarded. Many staff in schools and colleges who experience an ectopic or molar pregnancy, miscarriage, stillbirth or the neonatal death of their baby, are subjected to humiliating and unlawful treatment at work. 

Good employers show awareness, compassion and support for grieving parents. All schools and colleges should be prepared for the risk of a pregnancy loss and should adopt expansive workplace policies on baby loss and return to work arrangements. They should not be punishing teachers and support staff for taking time to recover from a loss.

Overview

Our pregnancy loss and termination resources are intended to equip teachers, support staff, reps, leaders and employers with information and strategies for improving conditions for working women and parents in the distressing circumstances of ectopic or molar pregnancy, miscarriage, termination / abortion, stillbirth, neonatal death or maternal ill-health.

These distinct resources supplement our general guidance on maternity rights and signpost to external specialist maternal health and baby loss support and advice services. You might find some of the topics in this set of resources challenging to read about, particularly if you have had a similar experience. We urge you to call on trusted colleagues, sympathetic NEU members, friends, and family to build a network of support around you. Read more

Guidance for members

Termination | abortion

An outline of rights at work for teachers and support staff who need to have an abortion / terminate a pregnancy.

Stillbirth and neonatal death

A guide for teachers and support staff on your rights at work if your baby is stillborn or dies within 28 days of being born.

Resources for reps

Pregnancy loss and termination – model policy

The aim of this model policy on cover on pregnancy loss and termination is to provide a framework that schools to support teachers and support staff affected by pregnancy loss or baby loss in a school or college setting.

Pregnancy loss and termination - checklist for reps

This document is about the importance of supporting teachers and support staff who have experienced pregnancy loss or termination, and provides a checklist for representatives on how to provide support in the workplace.

Stressed woman

Pregnancy loss and termination – a call to action

The NEU is calling for increased awareness, and greater support around baby loss in schools and colleges. Find out what teachers and support staff told us about their experiences of pregnancy loss in the education sector, and how members can work together to improve conditions at work.

Find out more
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