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Teacher maternity pay. Do I get paid over the summer hols?

13 replies

bumbleclat · 08/06/2016 20:35

I will start my maternity leave when we break up for Christmas and want to take the paid 39 weeks. Do I have to go back to work in July in order to get paid over the summer holidays?
Also does anyone know whether the 10 keeping in touch days count as 'going back to work or are they paid like over time?
Thank you :)

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KP86 · 08/06/2016 20:41

Won't your 39 weeks still be in effect until approx Sept?

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bumbleclat · 08/06/2016 20:49

Thats what I thought but then someone confused me at work today by saying that I would have to go back in July to make sure I get paid in the holidays.
Im sure you're right.

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Tollygunge · 08/06/2016 20:52

They're not right. Look in the burgundy book. You can go back the day before the holidays or even any day in the holidays- eg-August 1st. I'd go in day before though.

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Lilliana · 08/06/2016 20:56

I went back a couple of days before the end of term so I get my full summer pay not mat pay. Obviously you then have to go back at the beginning of September so I guess it depends if you want more time off in September.

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bumbleclat · 08/06/2016 20:58

Thank you.
I want to go back only 2 days a week so not sure if it will be worth it compared to my mat pay.
Wouldn't a day back before the holidays just count as a KIT day though?
Thanks

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Purpleprickles · 08/06/2016 20:59

The keeping in touch days don't count as going back, they are just to keep in touch. Possibly your colleague meant if you start back before the summer holidays start then you will be on full normal pay and not maternity pay. By July I think your maternity pay will be lower or possibly have stopped and you may only be on statutory. By returning to work before the hols start you would be back at work but then off for the summer. I have known colleagues to do the last day of term to kick start full pay again. Though this isn't always welcomed by schools.

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Purpleprickles · 08/06/2016 21:01

No it would only be a KIT day if you say it is. If you give the last day of term as your end of maternity leave return to work day then it will be that.

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ShushyBearMummy · 08/06/2016 21:02

Hey there,

This is my first post so I hope this makes sense. If you are planning on returning to work in September 2017, then the best idea is to go in a few days before the end of summer term so that your normal pay kicks in over the summer holiday. Being on maternity pay when it hits statutory maternity pay is pretty grim. Also your KIT days are paid. So for me, I went in for 5 of my KIT days when I hit statutory maternity pay as I got paid 100+ a day. Hope this helps.

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rollonthesummer · 08/06/2016 21:03

If you're only going back for two days-it probably won't make much difference. What is SMP each week and compare it to your 'working 2 day a week' weekly wage?

It's not that you won't get pair for the summer holidays, but that you'll get SMP rather than your normal wage.

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Lilliana · 08/06/2016 21:06

I started part time in September. So went back end of July on full time pay.

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ShushyBearMummy · 08/06/2016 21:23

At my school the head does like to know before you go on maternity if you would like to go back part time etc for staffing arrangements. I know at my school you have to apply to the governors I think to ask. Also when you decide on a date to return it has to be more than 28 days before hand.

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oneplusoneequalsfour · 08/06/2016 21:29

I went back full time for 6 weeks after my 1st then had the summer holidays at full pay and dropped to 2 days in September. After my 2nd I went back for the last 2 days of the summer term so I got paid over the summer holiday at my part time rate rather than Mat pay. The complicated bit for you will be getting them to agree full pay if you drop to 2 days as soon as you go back, but if you go back full time and ask to drop hours in sept you get full pay over the summer. I arranged mine before I went back so they knew it was half a term full time and then part time. It was hard work doing the full time bit but worth it for the extra pay as I was Ups with a Tlr, I did have family doing childcare which really helped. You may be able to do less full time, try for a week you don't know unless you ask. Officially you can return on the first day of the holiday and be paid full pay as you are available to work, in any other job you would earn holiday whilst on Mat leave so don't feel bad about doing it everyone in my school does it and our bursar reminds us to!

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bumbleclat · 09/06/2016 21:40

Thank you so much for your replies.

I don't mind telling them that I'm returning on the last day of term but I really don't want to take a full time wage when I need to arrange to be on a 2 day week before we break for the summer so it's a bit tricky.

I'm not sure what I'll be entitled to either, I know I'll get occupational MP and Stat MP on top of that (possibly) child benefit and maybe working tax credits so I hope I'll be okay and that it will be manageable, when can I start talking money etc with work around this and find out how much Ill be actually getting?

DH works a 3 day week so we are going to share child care when we're not working.

Im also working hard to clear my credit card at the moment so that we don't have too many monthly pesky outgoings.

Thank you :)