Maternity leave teachers

[windsor100]

Hi, my daughter was born in May and I was planning to take the whole year off for maternity leave. I would like to go back after May half term 2020 until the end of term but not return in September. My dilemma is that I have to give a terms notice which means that I would have to resign before I went back. Is this possible do you think? Any experience of similar would be gratefully recurved. Thank you

My friend did that. They didn’t give her a class but she helped step in if someone was off sick and did additional help with students with reading.

You don't need to give notice until 31 May?

It won't be popular but it's within the rules, they can't stop you. The timing is better than it could be, as I can't imagine they're planning to timetable you for the last half term anyway, other than as cover. They'll appreciate notice before they start next year's timetables and early enough so they can advertise before other teachers' resignation date, but you don't have to do that.

Union info here.... neu.org.uk/advice/maternity-rights#after-your-baby-is-born

Bear in mind whether you will need to pay back any maternity pay too possibly??

To retain maternity pay received under the Burgundy Book scheme, you are required to complete at least 13 weeks’ full time service, or its part-time equivalent, on your return to work.
Don't forget this bit.

As long as you are back employed for 13 weeks its fine. I did pretty much the same. The 6 weeks holiday counts in that 13 weeks so you just need to make sure you are back at work 7 weeks before the holidays. Remember you can say you are back at work on the first day of spring bank too. Gives you an extra week. I did tell them well before the 31st may though. No reason not to if you are sure you are leaving. Otherwise they will not be able to replace you until October at the earliest unless there's some NQTs still floating around.

Think you so much for all your responses. I have to give one terms notice so 31st May would be too late. Good to know about the 13 week rule. I will work back from here- thanks

You have to give one term's notice? Are you SMT? Most teachers' contracts expect half a term's notice so May 31 is standard for leaving Aug 31.

I agree standard terms are a half term. Might be worth checking although if you are an academy I guess it might be the case. It's the 13 weeks that's important anyway. You can hand your notice in whenever

Is it an independent school? I had to give a full term’s notice. I applied for part time jobs elsewhere whilst on maternity leave and I didn’t go back at all. I didn’t get enhanced mat pay though so that didn’t affect anything.

Must be an independent school or academy? Or your a HT? Surely all other schools following Burgundy Book, in which case it's as others have stated.

If your not under Burgundy Book then the 13 weeks may well not be relevant to you. You need to look in your contract.

Yes it is a private school, hence the terms notice.
Thank you

You need to check your contract, OP. None of the (accurate) advice on this thread is relevant to you as it’s based on the standard teachers’ pay and conditions for state schools in England and Wales.

You have the right to return to work after maternity leave, and you have the right to resign from your job within the notice periods in your contract. One should not affect the other.

Thank you all so much for your advice and help.
Would you suggest that I write one letter saying when I’d like to go back and in the same letter that I will not be returning in September?

I think that’s fine. When I was on mat leave I rang the Head’s PA as a courtesy to let them know I was applying for part time jobs and that they may be approached for a reference (they knew I wanted to go part time and I knew that they may not be able to offer it). I then rang again when I’d been offered the job to inform them and then resigned in writing. I gave them loads of notice (got the job in October, resigned in half term for the following April) so they had lots of notice of my plans. A colleague did exactly what you are wanting to do, came back for the last half term of the academic year and then left at the end of August. It was fine.

That’s good to know. Thank you!

A term’s notice is standard in private schools. Do check your contact and consider talking to HR department if you have one at your school.

I should add that private schools seem to be a law unto themselves so you might have to talk to your union.

Would you suggest that I write one letter saying when I’d like to go back and in the same letter that I will not be returning in September?

I think it would make for much better relations with your employers to do the above rather than leave it till the beginning of the summer term to resign.

That way they've got plenty of time to advertise in time for potential candidates to give notice to their current school.