Teacher maternity- when to work until?

[61sazzler61]

Hi everyone

Just after some advice from teacher mums!

Our first baby is due July 31st and I am thinking about when to start maternity leave. (Y6 primary teacher) (School have been very supportive of my pregnancy.)

Financially, it would be helpful if I could leave it as late as possible, to have more time with our little boy when he arrives!

If I pushed it until the last day of term (Friday 22 July) this would be only 9 days before my due date! (Eek!)
Usually, (if I was due at a 'busier' time of the academic year, I would not even contemplate doing this due to the pressures/marking/long days etc.)

However, since the last few weeks of term are far, far less pressure than the rest of the year (we have a week where my class are out on secondary school visits/whole school picnic day/rehearsals for our Y6 show- which my colleagues will happily lead) I am wondering if it is 'wasted' maternity pay taking time off at this point?

I have a 15/20 min drive to work and very supportive colleagues.

Also, I have already said that it is my intention (if I do leave earlier) to go back in to school for the Y6 Leavers' Presentation evening and also for an hour on my last day, as I'd like to see my class off to secondary school. So I feel like if I'm going in to school I might as well be being paid?

Am I completely mad!?
I just know that I have such a supportive team (and could have the two Y6 TAs with me as they would be the ones left with my class if I left two weeks earlier anyway.)

All honest thoughts welcome!! Thank you :)

Gov.uk site not specifying how late you can start leave

ACAS saying the same thing... " • the date she intends to start maternity leave. This can normally be any date which is no earlier that the beginning of the 11th week before the expected week of childbirth up to the birth. It is best to advice the employer as soon as possible."

"Up to the birth" NOT due date, but actual birth.

I did a maternity cover contract and I was told it would initially be for 6 months, but could be longer. I was fine with that, it was made perfectly clear. I ended up getting a permanent job in the school anyway, so sometimes it can be a good way of getting into a school.

Ok! Have written a long email to HR which I am about to send, quoting all three docs: their own maternity guidelines, NASUWT and ACAS!!

Have asked her to refer me to where 'due date' is stated or if not have asked to be referred to someone who can take this further.

Have tried to be very amicable and explain how this is not me being awkward but that is has a real financial impact on the amount of time I will be able to spend with our son when he arrives. (Which does have some element of truth, even though I'm planning to try and stretch to June 2017 regardless).

Any final words of wisdom before I hit send??

I almost gave up and thought 'why bother' with this but you have all motivated me to keep going- so thank you!

Tomorrow is officially my 15 week date to submit my form so I hope they don;t get funny about it or I'm not sure where I'll stand going 'over' this.... maybe I could just submit it regardless of where we're up with this 'debate' to and then attach all email etc up to this point?
xxx

Argh!! HR are still digging their heels in.

They have replied in an email stating that it must start on the birth date as specified on the MATB1 and have asked me to provide legislation contrary to this- which I have already!!

I have replied to tell them that they are the ones who need to provide legislation to say that the birth date is the 'due date on the MATB1' as it does not say this anywhere.

I have asked for the details of how to take this further but so far not luck.
I have also told them that my union and ACAS have both confirmed my stand point this morning.

Does anyone know how to fight this further? Do I just have to make a complaint against HR/the LA???

Try ringing ACAS.

I can't believe they're not accepting it. Like you say, the MATB1 form gives the due date (which is fairly arbitrary, in France your due date is at 41 weeks) not "birth date".

In a way, they are right in that you have to start the day after the actual Birth date. Trouble is, they seem to think the due date and birth date are the same thing, and that babies arrive on time.

If I was you I'd stick to it, give them a physical letter, and keep turning up till the end of term. Refuse to change it.

They have now just said that they 'might' be able to do it if Payroll can find a way to process it (they're still adamant that I can't put down two weeks after due date as it won't match my MATB1) and if I get a letter from my head to agree to it

I know the head will be fine with it as it makes no odds to the school- it will be the summer holidays regardless!

BUT I have also got in touch with my midwife and explained to see her opinion. she says she thinks she might be able to date my form differently for me (i.e. two weeks ahead) but will have to check. I never even thought of this before as didn't think she'd be allowed- I'm still not sure she will be allowed but fingers crossed.

Shouldn't have to do this though!
Thanks again for your help! :)

Good luck!

Stick with it! They don't like it because it makes it tricky for payroll but that's their issue.
Just keep saying the same thing. Ask them to physically ring ACAS who will confirm it.

I'm expecting the same argument when I hand my mat b1 in!

Glad we're in the same boat Iamchipmunk!

I'll let you know how I get on- hope you are successful too! :)

Thanks again Indomitable!

Sorry I appreciate this is such an old thread and sorry for bringing it back around now but wondering if you managed to agree this with school/HR?

I am a teacher due end of July and really don’t want to miss out on potentially an extra 2 weeks of pay if my baby is late (2nd baby but my first was 13 days late!)

I remember arguing this last time but it was only for the sake of 3 days because I was due in Feb half term so didn’t bother pushing it but this time is a bigger difference in potential pay I think.

I’m under no illusion that this baby will follow the pattern and may well come early anyway!

Thanks!

Hi
I had to ask my head to write a letter/email accepting this and saying that she was happy for it. Ridiculous really as it was completely in line with legislation (I think this is why they could not argue it eventually!).

Luckily for me my Head was fine with it- it made no difference to school really as it was in the summer holidays!

She did just say though that however it is processed might be slightly delayed as the office manager would not be in school during the holidays when I gave birth. That was fine with me. It all came right in the end.
I had to send a copy of my baby's birth certificate to HR if I remember rightly- they certainly weren't risking taking my word for it and getting any extra pay! Not that I would have ever done that, but it definitely felt that's what they were thinking after they had been so awkward about it.

Hope you get sorted and congrats on your pregnancy xx