Primary Teacher.. taking mat leave earlier than stated?!!

[Almostmumto2]

Am I allowed to take mat leave earlier than stated? I put my first day of mat leave as 9th Aug - my due date! I'm absolutely shattered and have been quite poorly these last 2 weeks. I'm back at work on Tuesday but want to ask to put my mat leave date as 15th July instead of finishing at end of term -27th

I'm having a year anyway and was going to go back for the last 2 weeks of summer term next year so don't think it effects anything much in terms of pay.

I have a 15 month old and I'm shattered. He's staying with the childminder until the 29th July so feel like the two weeks would do me good.

Do I need to give 28 days notice? I'm on sick at the moment or could I bring this up when I return on Tuesday?

Thanks and sorry for the long post!

Typically sickness in the last 4 weeks of Mat Leave trigger mat leave starting. I'm not sure on the specifics on teaching contracts, but given that you are on sick leave, I'd probably contact your boss and ask what they would prefer - a sick note up to the last day of term or expediting your mat leave.

Docs will extend your sick note at your request at this late stage in the pregnancy anyways.

In my job (nurse) if your sick in the month before your maternity leave starts they can make you take it early anyway. Its worth having another look at your policy but I cant think that they can make you work if your not well enough.

Extend your sick leave and it'll kick in at 36 weeks for maternity leave anyway!

Pregnancy related sickness will trigger your mat leave starting so it could be that your current sickness brings about your leave anyway.

Just came on to say what PPs said.
This might help also…
www.nasuwt.org.uk/advice/conditions-of-service/maternity.html

I'm back in Tuesday as doc sick note runs out Friday (don't work Mondays). Do you think they'd let me go earlier than my original stated date?

I don't want to extend the sick leave as I am starting to feel better and think I will be OK by Tuesday.

Just not sure they'd make me stay until the end?!

I think the will definitely let you go early. It would have to be a horrible head who makes you work when you’re not up to it. They would know you’d be within range of sick leave being triggered at 36 weeks.

However, the earlier you tell them, the better so they can sort cover etc. At the end of the day, you and baby come first.

I appreciate you want to start it early. There are only a few weeks until the end of term though which would mean you had full pay for longer. Why not talk to work about adjusting your risk assessment to reduce the load on you e.g. sitting while teaching and make it to the end of term?