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Original poster

Teacher due in August

10 replies

Lou1994 · 25/01/2022 19:05

Hello
I am a primary school teacher of 4 years (all at the same school) I have just found out I am pregnant and due on 27th August. When can I start my maternity? Will I be made to start it on the last day with the children before summer holidays (22nd July)? Or can I start it in the summer holidays? If I was due in term time I would had tried to work up to atleast 38 weeks! Please help I'm feeling really stressed and finacially want as much time off as possible after having the baby as childcare costs so much! Thanks so much for any advice x

OP posts:

JuniorMint · 25/01/2022 19:06

You can start in in the holidays.

mum7468 · 25/01/2022 19:08

Hi Lou,
Congratulations! Teacher here I was due 29 August. I took maternity leave on the 26 August when I gave birth. So it was actually great as I then had a full year off as went back 2 days before summer holidays the next year, then had the summer off!

User9088 · 25/01/2022 19:11

Congratulations! August baby will work very well for leave. You can start leave during the holidays. You can also start back a week before the summer hols (your partner could maybe take annual leave I possible so you don't need paid childcare at that point) and go back on full pay through the summer.

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Babynames2 · 25/01/2022 19:13

You can start in the holidays. My DD was due start of august. I went on maternity leave at the start of the holidays and ‘returned’ end of June then used annual leave until the end of the school year and still had the school holidays off.

My friends DD was due end of august. She started mat leave on her due date, had the full year off and had her annual leave throughout September.

I0NA · 25/01/2022 19:14

Congratulations your pregnancy.

Yes you can start in the school holidays. But remember most first babies are late so you need to work out what you will do if baby isn’t w born by the time term begins. Will you go back or start your maternity leave ?

Sorry to hear you are worried about money. But I don’t understand how staying off on unpaid leave will help you - surely it’s better to go back to work and have some money ?

Is your baby’s father still around ? Does he know you are pregnant ?

You need to talk to him about paying half( or more ) of childcare costs but of course some men do not .

Remember to get your claim for child maintenance in as soon as baby is born as it can’t be backdated.

Whereas child benefit can be backdated 3 months.

BertieBob · 25/01/2022 19:17

I was told I could put down my due date as my official start date, the 31st July. So I did. The little sod didn't turn up until the 11th August.

sunshineandshowers40 · 25/01/2022 19:20

Congratulations. DC2 was an August due date. I started my maternity leave the day I gave birth. I believe I had to put my due date as my start of maternity leave but if I had them early that would become by start date, if that makes sense?!? DC2 was 4 days early.

Original poster

Lou1994 · 25/01/2022 19:54

Thank you so so much for all your reassuring comments. I am super excited but an anxious person and this was worrying me.
I should had made it clear I am with my partner we planned baby but it happened much quicker than expected but that being said we are over the moon. I want to be off with baby for as long as possible and don't have parents who can help with childcare so childcare will cost us a lot and want to hold off having to use childcare until i need too. I'd much rather be off with my baby but do still intend to return after a year as I love my job as a teacher and will balance being a working mum ☺️ Thanks again everyone xx

OP posts:

fuckyourpronouns · 25/01/2022 22:46

Congratulations @Lou1994 !
You can start your maternity leave on your due date or when your baby arrives, whichever comes first. If you're a teacher then you may as well request it as your due date as you won't be working then anyway.

If you have pregnancy related sickness running up-to your due date then they can make you start your maternity leave from week 36. Otherwise you cannot be forced to start your maternity leave

I0NA · 26/01/2022 09:52

@Lou1994

Thank you so so much for all your reassuring comments. I am super excited but an anxious person and this was worrying me. I should had made it clear I am with my partner we planned baby but it happened much quicker than expected but that being said we are over the moon. I want to be off with baby for as long as possible and don't have parents who can help with childcare so childcare will cost us a lot and want to hold off having to use childcare until i need too. I'd much rather be off with my baby but do still intend to return after a year as I love my job as a teacher and will balance being a working mum ☺️ Thanks again everyone xx

Be very careful about taking a long maternity leave and / or going part time. It’s always a risk to the mum but much more so if you are young and not married. You will damage your income, career prospects and pension to allow your partner to protect his.

Then when / if you split up you will have no claim on any of these assets that you have helped build up.

In your situation I’d go back full time and make sure he pays half of the childcare ( or more if he earns more ) and does half of the nursery / childcare pick ups / drop offs.

And does all the sick days that fall in term time.

Do not live in his house and let him pay the mortgage and bills while you pay nursery fees and food. This seems to be a common set up and is potentially disastrous for mum and baby.

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