Advice needed! New job while on mat leave...

[Stickinglock]

... and I'm not sure where I stand.
I've been at my current school 15 years and I'm 4 months into maternity leave after having DS in November. Plan had been to go back to work in the summer, hopefully on 0.6. This would be useful both for pay in August and for a smooth transition into the new timetable.
However... current school is a long commute- two hours in the car a day and a part time job in a very local independent school has come up for a September start.
Where do I stand on maternity leave? What would I have to pay back if I never return? (Currently spreading payments over 9 months). Also, I'd have to provide names of referees from current head (new head just before I left so doesn't know me from Adam) and line manager- could they stop my mat payments?
I feel like this will be a good move for me in the long term, even though it means a step back from management responsibilities for a while, but need to consider the financial implications. Also, should note planning another baby in the not so distant future as had my first baby at 40... what if I'm pregnant again by September?

[TalaxuArmiuna]

if you never return you will have to pay back the difference between the enhanced maternity pay you recieved and the basic minimum which is your legal entitlement and can't be reclaimed.

although this move may cost you a bit, it sounds worth it for the better quality of life so don't let the financial implications put you off.

[TalaxuArmiuna]

if you are already pg by September you will only get Maternity Allowance which is much less. I would advise holding off ttc for a bit.

[Stickinglock]

Thanks @TalaxuArmiuna my husband thinks he has worked out it will cost nearly 5k it's so much... I can't bear the thought of going back full time and much sooner to avoid it.

Probably sensible @drivinmecrazy but it took us 7 months with DS so I'm scared to leave it much longer than the summer to start trying. It's so hard.

[Russell19]

I'd stay in your current job until you've had your second baby then look elsewhere.

[OnlyToWin]

Always thought you only had to pay back the 12 weeks of half pay if you did not return. Worth calling HR and checking.

[Whatelsecouldibecalled]

You would have to pay back your enhanced mat pay if you fail to return to original post for 13 weeks (or equivalent of part time)

[TalaxuArmiuna]

@OnlyToWin not quite - only the difference between the 12 weeks of half pay and the statutory minimum. so not all of it.

@Stickinglock yes £5k is probably about the right ballpark. it feels like a lot but as with all these things you need to balance the money against the quality of life. losing £5k is less than the drop in wage you would get just dropping from 1.0fte to 0.75fte and many new parents do that in a heartbeat because of the improved quality of life.

likewise the effective cost of starting a new job already pg which is going to be a similar cost as you lose all the enhanced benefits. it seems like a lot but it's less than what some couples spend on fertility treatments if they have difficulty ttc. if you are worried that delaying ttc could cause problems then that's just a cost to take into account.