Are you or your partner pregnant, planning on adopting a child, or have recently given birth? If so, there is support available to you at Edge Hill University.
We understand that this may be big news and may bring lots of changes into your life. You might have questions about what your options are and what this means for your studies. Our Student Support Team can offer you support through your journey as a New or Expectant Parent, connecting you to support and services to help you further.
Who are new and expectant parents?
New and Expectant Parents are persons who are currently pregnant, have recently given birth, or are planning to adopt a child.
Supporting you
The Student Support Team
The Student Support Team are on hand to support you. One of our Student Support Officers can arrange to have a chat with you regarding your circumstances and can support you during your time at Edge Hill. The team will liaise with your academic department and other support services within the university to ensure that you have the appropriate level of support in place during your studies.
You should share your pregnancy news with a member of your academic programme team, or the Student Support Team, or to another member of staff who you feel more comfortable with. Your academic department will refer you to the Student Support Team so that they can help you access appropriate support.
You do not have to share information about a pregnancy with the University, but we strongly encourage you to do so. Sharing this information will also help you to manage your studies alongside your pregnancy and maternity because your department can then provide you with individualised support, a risk assessment for your health and safety and any reasonable adjustments you may require during your pregnancy and return to study.
Once you have let your academic department know of your pregnancy, you will need to participate fully in developing and reviewing a Pregnancy Risk Assessment and a personalised New and Expectant Parent Plan, in conjunction with a designated member of staff from the Student Support Team and an appropriate member of staff from your academic department.
It is important to complete both the Pregnancy Related Risk Assessment and your personalised New and Expectant Parent Plan as without them, the University may not be able to provide necessary support for you, which could impact on your assessments, progression, or award.
Your mental health and wellbeing
If you are struggling and additional emotional or wellbeing support regarding your pregnancy, please contact our Mental Health and Wellbeing Team or email us at [email protected].
Money Worries
If you’re worried about how you’ll manage your finances with your changing situation, you can arrange to speak with our Money Advice team. The team can answer any questions you may have regarding finances, and they can signpost you onto further support, such as the Student Support Fund on offer for eligible students. The fund offers non-repayable awards and emergency support for students in financial difficulty.
I am a prospective student who is already pregnant when I commence my studies, who should I notify?
IIf you are pregnant or will have caring responsibility for a child under the age of one year old at the time of enrolment, you are advised to notify the relevant admissions team of your circumstances, so that arrangements can be made for a consultation with you in respect of support and adjustments. This consideration will be made entirely separately from the decision on the application for admission.
I am currently a student – who should I let know about my pregnancy?
Your Health Team
If you believe you may be pregnant or have confirmed your pregnancy, we strongly advise you to contact your midwife or GP to arrange for appropriate medical advice and guidance. You may need antenatal care, and advice about any impact on study as your pregnancy progresses.
Letting your Department, School or Faculty know
You do not have to share information about a pregnancy with the University, but we strongly encourage you to do so. Sharing this information will also help you to manage your studies alongside your pregnancy and maternity because your department can then provide you with individualised support, a risk assessment for your health and safety and any reasonable adjustments you may require during your pregnancy and return to study.
You can email or speak to a member of your academic programme team, the Student Support Team, or to another member of staff who you feel more comfortable with. If you share your pregnancy news with your academic department you will be referred to the Student Support Team so that they can help you access appropriate support.
If you remain uncertain about whether to disclose, or you are not sure who to disclose to, you may seek impartial advice from the Students’ Union Advice Team by emailing [email protected].
What will happen if I am absent during my studies when I am pregnant?
You should take responsibility for understanding the specific requirements of your programme of study, and possible impact of any pregnancy or maternity related absence for your studies and assessments, including unplanned absences because of your pregnancy. A member of your academic department can discuss your options and add them to your New and Expectant Parent plan.
I am due to take my exams – what should I do?
You should note that if your baby is due close to the examination period, you may require confirmation from your doctor that you are fit to complete your exams.
If you are unable to sit an exam or assessment, you will be given advice on the options available. The appropriate member from your academic department will offer advice and information regarding alternative assessment/exam arrangements in accordance with your department’s policies regarding extensions and Personal Circumstances.
I am on, or about to go on Placement, what should I do?
Where you plan to or are required to take part in placements or field work as part of your studies whilst pregnant, or within the first 26 weeks following the birth of child, a risk assessment will be carried out by the department responsible for organising the placement. The placement provider may also wish to carry out a Pregnancy Risk Assessment for the workplace and they will share this with the University.
The Student Support Team will co-ordinate relevant teams to work with you, your academic department and the employer/placement provider to help develop a New and Expectant Parent Plan. Relevant actions from the employer/placement provider’s risk assessment will be included in the Plan and joint review dates agreed.
Study Abroad and international placements
If you become pregnant whilst on a study year abroad or international placement, you are required to contact your Department, School or Faculty to make appropriate plans to ensure your health and safety.
I am pregnant, what do I do about my Student Accommodation?
The University does not have accommodation that is suitable for families. We therefore advise you to consider your accommodation requirements in the early stages of your pregnancy, as you will not be permitted to stay in university accommodation with a child.
If you provide medical evidence of your pregnancy, you will be released from your accommodation contract, subject to the usual conditions. It is essential that you inform the Accommodation Service as soon as you become aware that you are pregnant, as it will be necessary to discuss the implications in terms of accommodation and it may be necessary to conduct a risk assessment. Your living arrangement will be considered as part of the Department’s New and Expectant Parent Risk Assessment and New and Expectant Parent Plan.
You can register with Studentpad via the Students’ Union to look for and view suitable accommodation in the local area, prior to the arrival of your baby, or prior to your return from maternity related absence. It should be noted that Landlords may be reluctant to permit students with children to rent in a shared student household. As such we recommend that you also contact your local authority to advise them that you are a new parent and wish to be considered for Local authority housing.
I am a student who has recently experienced pregnancy loss, where can I get support?
Experiencing a pregnancy loss can be very difficult. If you require additional support in any way, you can contact the Student Support Team and access support from our Wellbeing Team at Mental Health and Wellbeing Team. External support (not affiliated with the University) can also be found below.
I have recently given birth, what arrangements do I need to consider when I return to study?
Resuming your studies
You will be contacted by Academic Registry to confirm your scheduled return to studies and notify the Student Support Team of the confirmation date.
The Student Support team will act as a single point of contact for you to discuss any support needs and will liaise with your academic department when you are ready to return, so that your support plan can be reviewed.
If no return date has been agreed prior to the birth of your baby, you should contact the University no later than 10 days before your planned date of return, or sooner, if possible, to confirm arrangements for your return. This information will be added to the New and Expectant Parent plan and Interruption Support Agreement if this option is taken.
Financial considerations
If you have money worries regarding your return to study, the Money Advice Team are available to support you and can also offer advice and guidance on Maintenance and Childcare grant information.
In addition, the Students’ Union advice team provide impartial and independent advice about financial matters.
Childcare
We advise that childcare will need advance planning and suggest that arrangements are made at the beginning of a pregnancy. The University does not have any creche facilities available on campus. Staff can signpost you to sources of information and advice on childcare provision (Get childcare: step by step – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk).
Children may be brought into the social spaces of Edge Hill University as they can into any public building, but they are not normally permitted in teaching spaces. You cannot choose to take your own children with you to timetabled sessions. The only occasion when a child is permitted in a teaching space is where this forms part of the lesson and is led and organised by the teaching staff. If teaching staff bring children or babies into a teaching session, they are responsible for conducting an appropriate risk assessment in advance with due consideration of the material being presented.
If you are a student studying on a programme based at Ormskirk or a partner site in the UK, you will be responsible for the safety and supervision of your child if you bring them on to campus and should identify any areas of campus that you may normally have access to which would not be considered a safe environment for children.
Breastfeeding and milk expression
You are welcome to breastfeed/express milk anywhere in public spaces on campus. Breastfeeding in public places is protected under the Equality Act 2010. The University provides several locations on campus that have been designated as breastfeeding-friendly locations, which provide a space to express and store milk during the working day.
Which areas can I use to breastfeed or express milk on campus?
You are welcome to breastfeed/express milk anywhere in public spaces on campus. The University provides several locations on campus that have been designated as breastfeeding-friendly locations, which provide a space to express and store milk during the working day. You can find further information on our Breastfeeding, Expressing and Infant Feeding on Campus document.
If you are the partner of a pregnant person, or a student who has or is likely to have parental responsibilities for a very young child, you are entitled to ask for flexibility in respect of arrangements for study and assessment. Flexibility will be shown where possible although this will necessarily be more limited in some programmes than others and should be discussed in advance.
I am a partner of a pregnant person/or new and expectant parent – who should I let know about my circumstances?
You are encouraged to discuss your situation with your Personal Academic Tutor, or to another member of staff who you feel more comfortable with, or the Student Support Team. Your academic department will refer you to the Student Support Team so that they can help you access appropriate support. A member of your academic department can discuss your options and add them to your Partner Plan.
If you are unsure who to disclose this information to, you should seek advice from the Students’ Union advice team. Flexible arrangements may include authorised absence for medical appointments prior to and after the birth; a period of absence at the time of the birth (parental support leave), consideration of your circumstances in respect of any deadlines, assessment and exams, or suspension of studies (interruption), in accordance with your department’s policies regarding extensions and Personal Circumstances.
Am I eligible to take a break from my studies to support your partner or child?
Interruption of studies for partners may be approved where it is shown that childcare following the birth of the child would be equally shared during the maternity, paternity, parental or adoption leave. Go to the Interrupting your studies web page for further details.
I am the partner of a student who has suffered a pregnancy loss, where can I get support?
The impact of your partner going through a pregnancy loss can be very difficult. If you require additional support in any way, you can contact the Student Support Team and access support from our Wellbeing Team at Mental Health and Wellbeing Team. You could also access external support (not affiliated with the university) provided below.
If you have or are likely to have parental responsibilities for a very young child by means of adoption, you are entitled to ask for flexibility in respect of arrangements for study and assessment. Flexibility will be shown where possible although this will necessarily be more limited in some programmes than others and should be discussed in advance.
I have recently become a parent through adoption while being a student, or I am planning on becoming a parent through adoption. Where can I go for support?
If you are planning to or have become a parent because of adoption, you are entitled to the same support and advice as other students who become parents during their studies.
If you are jointly adopting with another student, only one of you will be considered as the primary caregiver, who will be entitled to be considered for maternity/parental related absence.
The other partner is entitled to ask for flexibility in respect of arrangements for study and assessment. Flexibility will be shown where possible although this will necessarily be more limited in some programmes than others and should be discussed in advance with personal tutors in Departments, Schools or Faculties.
Flexible arrangements may include authorised absence for medical appointments prior to and after the birth; a period of absence at the time of the birth (parental support leave), consideration of your circumstances in respect of any deadlines, assessment and exams, or suspension of studies (interruption), in accordance with your department’s policies regarding extensions and Personal Circumstances.
You are encouraged to discuss your situation with your Personal Academic Tutor or the Student Support Team. If you are unsure who to disclose this information to, they should seek advice from the Students’ Union advice team.
Interruption of studies for partners may be approved where it is shown that childcare following the birth of the child would be equally shared during the maternity, paternity, parental or adoption leave. Go to the Interrupting your studies web page for further details.
I am an international student who is pregnant, where can I get support?
If you are an international student who has become pregnant, you should speak to a member of your academic programme team or the Student Support Team as soon as possible, who will refer you to the International Office for advice as soon as the University has been notified of the pregnancy.
You will be advised by the International Office regarding the implications of any pregnancy-related absence on your visa. The International Team will also discuss any other considerations to make, such as getting a passport for your child and applying for visa extensions. You can contact the International Team for further advice.
I am an international student and the partner of a pregnant person, where can I get support?
If you are an International student based in the UK on a student visa and are considering absence as a result of your partner’s pregnancy and maternity, you will be advised by the International Office’s Visa and Immigration Team, in respect of any implications to your visa as a result of any absence, interruption or a change in the expected completion date for your studies. It is imperative that international students seek early advice as any interruption of studies could have serious consequences in relation to visas permissions and study status.