New and Expectant Mothers in Schools and Learning Environments Toolbox Talk

This toolbox talk is designed for teaching and support staff in the education sector who are pregnant or planning a pregnancy. It outlines the specific hazards that can be encountered in schools – such as manual handling of heavy books, exposure to cleaning chemicals or laboratory reagents, prolonged standing, noisy environments and the mental strain of heavy workloads. Pregnant staff may also experience increased fatigue, balance changes and a higher susceptibility to infections. This brief equips managers and colleagues with clear steps to support safe working conditions, from adjusting lesson plans to providing suitable seating and ensuring emergency procedures consider pregnancy‑specific needs.

Use this toolbox talk for staff inductions and onboarding of pregnant employees, for regular safety briefings and refresher sessions, and for reviewing and updating risk assessments when a pregnant employee returns from maternity leave. It provides clear, practical actions that staff can take to protect their health and ensure compliance with UK law.

• Use this toolbox talk for: staff inductions and onboarding of pregnant employees.
• Use this toolbox talk for: regular safety briefings and refresher sessions.
• Use this toolbox talk for: reviewing and updating risk assessments when a pregnant employee returns from maternity leave.

All guidance is fully compliant with UK legislation and can be adapted to your school’s policies and procedures.

Fully editable and shareable – customise the placeholders to match your school’s policies and publish on your intranet or print for classroom use.

Compliant with: Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999.