Maternity leave - UK teachers

[m.knight]

Hi guys

I'm due March 1st so plan to take my maternity leave after feb half term which I know I can do, if i can stay on my feet for that long. I want to return to work part time in September but do you know if I can officially return to work at the beginning of the summer holidays, thus getting my full time pay package for the 6 weeks summer hols? I know it's a bit cheeky but hey, needs must!

 

[hinkybinky]

Hi, and congratulations!

I read into this last time and you can *technically* return on the first day of the summer holidays, or any day you like, but (I suppose because, as you say, it is a bit cheeky!) most teachers tend to come back, say, a week before the holidays.

With DS, I left end of Sept, and came back full time for 2 weeks, got paid full time over the hols and then went back 3 days with my p/t contract starting 1st Sept! I did end up having to cover a class for those 2 weeks, which was a bit of a culture shock, but helped me realise I could still teach after all that time at home!

This time I'll have just gone back full time, I'm due in Feb and intend to work 3 weeks after the Xmas hols, then come back to school 2 weeks before the summer holidays. My OH is then intending to take some of my remaining maternity leave so that he can do childcare for those 2 weeks and then we can all have the summer together

Currently we have 3 teachers expecting (!!) and we are all intending to come back for last 2 weeks of July. It is nice to get back in the swing of things tbh, so that come Sept you are not totally out of the loop. You can do Keeping in Touch days too (up to 10 paid days), worth thinking about.

 

[happigail]

My friend is a teacher and she returned for 1 week before the summer hols. She looked into it and they can't stop you from doing that x

 

[george83]

I'm starting my maternity leave at Christmas and will hopefully go back some time during July so that I can get paid over the holidays, the only thing you need to be careful/aware of is that if your going part time in September you might have to go back part time straight away so your summer holiday pay might be less than you hoped, I think it depends on the county council

 

[m.knight]

I'm thinking about doing my keeping in touch days for the last 2 weeks before the summer hols, or maybe 5 of them for the last week as I still want to be in for meetings etc. I just want to have a clear idea of a plan before I talk to the head next week.

 

[sparklycat]

Hey! How strange i'm a teacher too (and live very near you!) and due on the 1st of march as well! I plan on going on maternity 2 weeks after the Xmas holidays (I def don't think i'll be able to hold out until half term) and the going back 1 or 2 weeks before the end of term as well so that pay kicks in for the summer holidays.
xxx

 

[lauraclili]

My head actually advised me to start my MAT leave on the last day of the holiday and then come back on the first day of the next holiday. It's not cheeky, it's sensible bearing in mind that as teachers we don't accrue holiday in the same way as other people and don't have paid leave we can tack onto the beginning and end of our statutory pay.

Also bearing in mind that as teachers we actually get a really rubbish deal with maternity leave. Statutory minimum is not a good deal! Especially when compared to other public sector workers (not including nurses in this as their pay is as bad as ours!)

I'm not normally like this about the job but in this case, and having done it once already, my advice is to take the leave you want which leaves you in the best financial position. Bear in mind too, that the school is not personally responsible for paying your maternity pay and is not out of pocket if you are off longer or choose to take an 'awkward' amount of leave.

This time, I'm leaving on the first day of term in January and going back after the september term half term. It works for me.

 

[Feathers]

I'll be returning to work on the first day of the Summer holidays! Last pregnancy I started my maternity leave on the first day back at work in September. There's nothing to stop you doing that because it's not your fault school isn't running when you put your dates down. Why go without money for 6 weeks?

 

[KS1977]

Last time, I finished in mid April and had bubs at the beginning of May. I went back to work for the last week of the July term to get my normal pay during the holidays. This time around, I am intending to finish at Xmas as am due early Jan, and then go back for the last few days of the July term so I can et my normal pay. There is nothing to say ou cannot do this. It just ensures you dot still get paid maternity throughout August. I am part time at the moment and am on 0.8 of a timetable. I intend after this one to drop down to maybe 3 or 3.5 days depending on finances. I just look at it this way now....I have a family, and you cannot get this time back again. They don't thank you for busting a gut, so why should you return to work for a long time to get normal pay, when actually you don't have to xx (If that makes sense?) xx

 

[m.knight]

Thank you so much for all your responses. I'm going to tell the head I'll come back on the first day of the summer hols you are very right in that we get little thanks for what we do, and we work damn hard, so I'll do what suits me!

Sparkly cat, where do you teach?
X

 

[hinkybinky]

I'm thinking about doing my keeping in touch days for the last 2 weeks before the summer hols, or maybe 5 of them for the last week as I still want to be in for meetings etc. I just want to have a clear idea of a plan before I talk to the head next week.

I'm not sure if there'd be any difference in doing 5 KIT days for the last week of term, or actually saying that was the end of your maternity leave and coming back for that week. They'd be paid the same, I think.

I have to say, my head was brilliant, actually suggesting the best way for me to work my leave so that I benefitted the most (as pp has said). I guess it depends on your head and your local authority etc.

Has anyone else at your school taken mat leave recently? Might be worth asking them to see how the land lies before you have your chat.

Good luck x

 

[10.Laura]

Do it - the system doesn't help us out at any other time! I was maternity cover for a lady a few years ago and she came back on the last day of term. School very kindly paid me through the holidays anyway, but I didn't expect them to.

 

[KS1977]

Do it - the system doesn't help us out at any other time! I was maternity cover for a lady a few years ago and she came back on the last day of term. School very kindly paid me through the holidays anyway, but I didn't expect them to.

This is something I am considering. x

 

[EmmaFTM]

I broke up as usual in July and was paid for the holidays up until my due date (25th August). I went back the following July and worked three weeks full time as I had to 'pay back' the thirteen weeks I needed to as I had the maternity pay that pays you a percentage if your salary and gradually decreases until it is just SMP.

This time I am leaving at Christmas and won't go back. I certainly have been treated very differently after returning to work on a part-time basis and have hated my job for the past year. Will be so glad to wave bye bye and be with my two little girls for a while until something else comes up that suits me better.

I agree with PP. Don't be worried to 'be cheeky'. I'm sure you work many, many hours over and above what is in your contract and deserve all the time you can get with you little one. Enjoy. Xx

 

[hinkybinky]

I broke up as usual in July and was paid for the holidays up until my due date (25th August). I went back the following July and worked three weeks full time as I had to 'pay back' the thirteen weeks I needed to as I had the maternity pay that pays you a percentage if your salary and gradually decreases until it is just SMP.

This time I am leaving at Christmas and won't go back. I certainly have been treated very differently after returning to work on a part-time basis and have hated my job for the past year. Will be so glad to wave bye bye and be with my two little girls for a while until something else comes up that suits me better.

I agree with PP. Don't be worried to 'be cheeky'. I'm sure you work many, many hours over and above what is in your contract and deserve all the time you can get with you little one. Enjoy. Xx

Sorry to take the thread OT but I have to echo this about part time working. I have hated it the last two years (sharing a Y4 class with a teacher who couldn't be more pedagogically opposed to me). Sadly we are not in a financial position for me to quit so after our next baby is born I'll be going back full time and OH will be working part time instead (with my mum continuing with the childcare for the other half of the week). It's not ideal but the best way to ensure my sanity, as I had such a hard time feeling like I was short-changing the kids at school as well as the most important one at home

 

[ClaireJ23]

Yes, teachers at my school are advised to do this by HR.

 

[missvikki]

With my first LO I went back to work for the last school week in July. This was really helpful as I could get my classroom ready and meet the children. It also eased me back in a little bit and the children could ask me all the questions etc.. before I started back as a full time teacher. My head didn't even mention starting the first day of the holidays she just said come back for the last week so I did.
I plan on doing the exact same thing again x

 

[KS1977]

With my first LO I went back to work for the last school week in July. This was really helpful as I could get my classroom ready and meet the children. It also eased me back in a little bit and the children could ask me all the questions etc.. before I started back as a full time teacher. My head didn't even mention starting the first day of the holidays she just said come back for the last week so I did.
I plan on doing the exact same thing again x

A good move Hun x

 

[cupcaker]

Do it. I left the 1st of march, due 29th march, and he was infact born then.

I am returning next week and was too shy of going back before the Summer hol to get my money. My last paycheck yesterday is a GRAND down on what I was used to when at work. Have got in a real mess. has really put even more of a damper on going back x