Teachers maternity pay

[Butterfree1]

I hope I'm posting in the right place?

I'm currently reading the burgundy book, the section on pregnancy.

It might be my cold but it's confusing me.

I started at a new school last year September on a permanent contract.

Me and hubby want to have a baby however it'll be great if I could get the full maternity pay.

How does it work?

It says in the burgundy book that I'll have to work 1 full year into 11 weeks before the due date.

Am I right in saying that if I were to have a baby by November 2019 that I will have worked 1 full year and into 11 weeks before the due date?

Also, it says you can leave at 29 weeks, would I still qualify for that.

I don't really want to ask anyone at school as I'm just planning, it may not happen the way I want it to but no harm in trying!

TYIA x

I forgot to add that I'm a primary school teacher if that makes any difference and full time too. X

Am I right in saying that if I were to have a baby by November 2019 that I will have worked 1 full year and into 11 weeks before the due date?

That's correct. You need to have worked at the school for a full 12 months (to the day) by the time you are 29 weeks pregnant.

Also, it says you can leave at 29 weeks, would I still qualify for that.

Yes. That's set in law, as is the entitlement to 12 months off work.

Depending on the schools/council, you may also get continuous employment between jobs. My husband moved schools when I was part way through my pregnancy, but it was the same council and they considered it continuous employment so he was still entitled to paternity leave.

Be aware if your school is an academy they may not abide by the burgundy book entitlements

Thank you for your post! Atleast that's cleared it up for me! That means that in theory, I'd need to be 7 months pregnant by the end of September.
Yey, that means I can start trying from Feb onwards! X

I wasn't teaching the year before as I took break from it, it was all too much for me but this school is a lot better in terms of stress and management.

The school I'm working in currently is not an academy, it also mentions the burgundy book in my contract for maternity.

I used to work in an academy though, I wonder how they deal with maternity pay.

Each academy deals with maternity pay differently.

FWIW I’ve never encountered an academy with a maternity pay policy which is less generous than the burgundy book.

So long as your contract mentions the burgundy book you should be fine unlike @Thanksithaspockets I have known a school only offer contractual mat pay.

Be aware that if you leave at 29 weeks you could end up having three months fewer off with your baby. I worked until 38 weeks and am so glad I did now DD is 6 months old! I don't have to go back at all until she is nearly a year old.

Contractual only with no statutory?

Oh god I'm freaking out. I didn't realise the 29 week thing
I'll only be 27 weeks by the to.e I've been there a year, does this mean I won't get maternity?