Teachers - maternity leave

[Flatwhite32]

Hi everyone, I'm currently 22 weeks pregnant, and being a teacher, I need to submit my maternity leave forms very soon. I'm due towards the end of July (2 days after term finishes). I would just be interested to hear how far in advance other teachers starter their maternity leave. Touch wood, apart from some anxiety caused by losing my first pregnancy, things have been going ok so far (touch wood) and I have been well (again, touch wood). I am a full time primary school teacher with a class of 31 Year 5s, and am shattered in the evenings, but ok so far during the day. I realise that in summer I'll (hopefully with all being well!) be a lot bigger and more uncomfortable from the heat. I'm not really asking for specific advice as such, and I know every pregnancy is different, but I'd just be interested to hear when other teachers chose to start maternity leave. Thank you!

[northernlass81]

I'm secondary and finished at 38 weeks with number 1, I was full time at that point and to be honest, felt so well I could have carried on until term! Baby came at 40+4 and I was glad of the 2 weeks off before. I'm pregnant again now, 34 weeks currently and officially start mat leave straight after the Easter holls so in effect finish work at 36 weeks this time but mat leave kicks in at 38 weeks and tbh I'm really looking forward to it! Still feel physically fine but with a toddler in tow am definitely more tired and just fed up with the ever increasing workload at school!

[ClareB83]

You have to submit your maternity leave forms really soon regardless of being a teacher. Deadline is 15 weeks before expected week of childbirth.

[IchFliegeNach]

I taught until 38 weeks (secondary). However, I went off in Oct so I had just had the whole summer off which may have a bearing on things.
In the end, DD came at 42 weeks so I had a whole month off! I was ready at 38, though.

[userabcname]

Mat leave kicked in on my due date but I had the week before off as it was half-term. If you have a low risk pregnancy you may as well go as close as you can to the due date as then you get maximum time off with baby - that's my opinion anyway! Congratulations by the way.

[Girlwiththearabstrap]

I put 39 weeks both times. First time didn't quite make it that long and got induced at 34 and a half weeks so literally walked out of work and up to the hospital.

This time round- currently 33 weeks. Hoping to make it back for 3 weeks after Easter as long as the baby isn't early this time!
I prefer to have time the other side (for financial reasons as well) so leaving as late as possible works for me.

[OrangeHorse]

I finished at 34 weeks. Secondary teacher swapping between classrooms every lesson so I was really exhausted by then. My LO arrived at 38 weeks so it was nice to have a rest before.

[Flatwhite32]

Thank you so much everyone. Your responses are really helpful! I think I'll put down 38 weeks. Congrats to all who are expecting .

[voxnihili]

I’m debating this as due during the summer holidays. Does anyone know if my mat leave can start half way through the holidays?

[JenDill]

I'm 21 +4 weeks & a full time primary teacher. I'm due the end of July too & planning to start mine on 1st July so will be around 37 weeks. I've planned it this way as I'm taking a year so will start back 1st July then & only have a few weeks in before summer hols.

[broad86]

I'm a teacher but I'm in a special school and I finished at 33 weeks (currently 36 weeks) as I found I was getting terrible back pain towards the end and still am. A friend of mine finished for maternity at 35 weeks last year on a Friday and had her baby Monday following! Not much of a rest for her!

[Fluffybat]

Congratulations! I was in yr 5 as well when I found out I was pregnant. I worked up to my due date but I had two weeks off for Easter so it worked out really well for me. I used the children a lot towards the end if I'm honest! I suffered with SPD so the kids helped a lot with things like handing out books, tidying up and going to photocopier. Use them as much as you can- they love to be helpful and it helps you focus on the remaining tasks.
Enjoy your journey. My class loved me being pregnant and ended up naming my bump (I didn't keep the name!) But the loved seeing scans, learning how big baby was and learning new facts each week. They were so excited it made it more magical.

[Hesburger]

Vox - I was due mid August and was able to start my maternity leave the day that my ds was born rather than the end of the summer term.

I just had to email in and let business manager know, if I remember correctly.

[carringtonm]

I'm due June 8th and putting the first day after May half term (4th June) as my maternity start day because then I get a week as holiday rather than maternity pay. I didn't see the point in going back for four days after half term.

You can bring your date forward if needed so for now you could just put your due date as your estimated date of maternity and then if you find you're struggling you can start it earlier. The official line is that you need to give 28 days notice but if you were physically struggling to continue then you would get advice from a doctor and go off which would kickstart your maternity early (from 36+ weeks). That way you will get full pay as long as possible rather than go off a bit early and find that you would have been fine to continue and you are losing out on pay.

It also depends if you'd be particularly keen to see out the school year and the last day of term or if you're looking forward to a couple of weeks rest before the baby arrives!

[preggersteach]

I'm due 20th July and have submitted my letter and said 'I intend to go on maternity leave from 8th july' so would be finishing at 38 weeks, hope I make it that long!