Can I take parental leave for this?

[eddalp]

I am exhausted. Really need a break. Don’t have enough annual leave to cover illness etc. Can I use parental leave to have some days off while dc is in nursery?

I'm pretty sure you can take parental leave for whatever reason you want. I used it to support dd's transition to high school then that freed up my annual leave for other things. I did have to say why I wanted it but it wasn't checked up on at all. I've used unpaid special leave in the past when I've really needed a break and didn't want to take sick leave.

I believe parental leave is unpaid and you are supposed to use it to care for a dependent.

Wouldn’t seeing the doctor for stress be a better option? I believe there is a limit on parental leave too so if you had a genuine emergency later down the line you might need the leave.

Parental leave is to take time with your child not to take time off work while your child is at nursery.
Could you ask for another type of unpaid time off?

Not without lying to your employer about the reasons for being off.

If you are so tired that you're struggling to be in work, maybe you need to take sick leave rather than parental leave?

Or you could ask your employer if they would consider a period of unpaid leave?

Why can't you take sick leave?

Unless you lie to your employer, no.

Parental leave is usually for unplanned emergencies where you need to care for your child, not for when you have adequate care but you could ask for unpaid leave.

Parental leave isn't there so you can have a wee break.

Consider getting signed off for stress if uts at that point.

What’s your sick leave policy?

Thanks! I think I will plough on a bit. Sick leave is paid for 28 days a year I think

https://www.gov.uk/parental-leave

If you meet the criteria listed here I don't see why you couldn't take parental leave.

It's unpaid so I don't see why an employer would care what you're doing. It would be more beneficial for them for you to take parental leave than get to a point where you are taking unplanned sick leave due to stress.