Teachers - maternity leave

[cat811]

Does anyone know whether you have to include summer hols as part of your maternity leave? I'm due at the beginning of Sep, so was hoping to take leave from the first day back (officially) so that I'd have from July off in reality, but can I do this, or will it start from the last day I teach (which would be in July)?

Thanks xx

[MummyToOneForNow]

I think you can choose any date you like to start your maternity leave (has to be the start of a week - I think on a Sunday). Being a teacher shouldn't make a difference. Last time I started my maternity leave at the end of half term rather than the beginning. I am also due in Sep (baby no 2) and am planning to say I want to start mat leave end of Aug.

Pretty sure this is the case but am sure someone will correct me if I'm wrong!

[TellusMater]

Oh yes. I started mine at the beginning of the spring term (so left at Christmas).

[cece]

Yes you can. Look at the NUT website - it has a massive document you can download with yur rights on.

[peachygirl]

You do not have to. Lucky you. 6 weeks on full pay before you strt your leave.
Someone at my school who was due in october did this.

Someone also worked right up til her last possible day, coinciding with the last day of the easter term and had her baby the next day!!!

[Heated]

Yes, you can - just state it in your letter as to when you intend to start mat leave - it makes no financial sense not to. If you had your baby early, the date of their birth would be the start of your mat leave.

I know teachers who return from mat leave two days before the start of the summer hols too.

[beautifuldays]

yes you can do this, it is your statutory holiday so you are perfectly within your rights to start your leave on 1st of sep (as long as baby is due after thies date)
one of my friends also finished here maternity leave on the first day of the summer holidays so she got paid for the summer but didn't have to go back to work until septmeber.

lots of people i know tag a few weeks hol onto their maternity leave, shouldn't be any different just because you're a teacher

oh and my dh had half term in the middle of his paternity leave so got 3 weeks off with us when dd was born. very handy!

[peachygirl]

I could have done that Heated. But I went back 3 weeks before. I was lucky that DH (uni lecturer) could have DD and I went back full time. 3 weeks work for 8 weeks pay!!.
In september I went part time

[MPD]

Hi

My baby is due 7th August and as a teacher I am a bit concerned that they will make me take maternity leave from the start of the hols 23rd July. I have read somewhere that you are entitled to add owed holidays to the end or start of maternity leave. Feel bit unfair to loose my holiday entitlement. My school is not the most family friendly!