Maternity rights and time off?

[mindermummy]

i was wondering how much time most people have off before mindees return?
How does the maternity pay work?

Thanks

I took the full 6 months off and unfortunately it meant that I lost my previous mindee. I'm not really suprised though as he was under one so the less times they moved him the better!
I know some people have taken as little as 2 weeks!
You get statutory maternity pay.. which is £106, ish - cannot remember exact figure, a month. You have to apply to the job centre plus once you are over 26 weeks. You can download the form on line and get it totally ready to post when you get to 26 weeks.
Hope this helps

I'm taking two weeks holiday.

It's currently £108 for up to 26 weeks but you can't work at all. You have to have paid at least 13 NI contributions to get it.

I know a minder that carried on straight through, gave birth on the friday evening and had her mindees on the monday.

I've been looking into this as I've recently found out I'm pregnant I think I'll be covered for MA because I will have been paying NI for around 18 months before 26 weeks. Do you get the full 26 weeks or does it depend on the amount of NI you've paid?

As long as you've paid 13 class 2 NI contributions I believe you get the full whack.

I started paying my contributions in Jan last year. I had my baby in October and I got the full amount. So I'd say you'll be fine.

My dd1 is 2 yrs old and i took the full 6 months off with her.
I am currently on mat leave with my 16 day old dd2 and i plan to take 6 months off again.
I don't know how anyone manages to just have a few days or a couple of weeks off tbh.
My hormones are all over the place,bf is going well but it is so time consuming feeding,changing and cuddling my new dd.
I def wouldn't have time to play with or do trips etc with mindees.I also enjoy the time with the new baby and dd1,would be hard for her to share me with mindees as well as new baby.
I'm just enjoying the extended break(which i'll never have again) with my kids before having to get back into the slog of work.

The only thing is, how do the Mindees manage with out you for that long?
What if they have no choice but to find a new childminder, as they cant wait that long. Thats my worry.
I thought of having a month-6 weeks off. But really dont know how they will cope with childcare arrangements.

The first time i decided to go on mat leave the children i was looking after were gonna be no great loss iykwim.I was really glad to get shot of them tbh so it was a perfect excuse to get shot of them.

This time one of my mindees has moved on to a friend of mine,she is dut to start school so wasn't bothered about losing her as i will be looking to have only 1 under 5 anyway.

The baby i was looking after will be 18 months when i go back to work so not sure whether i want her back either,her mum wants me to have her again in January when i start work again but i have said only that i will think about it nearer the time.The mum is off sick atm and is looking for another job which she hopes will coincide with me being back to work in january.

I realise it would be hard to say bye to some mindees but i have offers of work reasonably reguarly so i didn't worry too much about being out of work.

i also was more bothered about spending time with my own children at the time.
HTH