Maternity leave help

[SWJ90]

Not sure if I’m posting in the right sub-group, so please let me know if so.

I am looking for some help - my partner and I want to start trying for a baby soon (I am 32), but I’m concerned about not qualifying for maternity and have been warned by friends that I need to make sure I have it as life will be very difficult without it!

We are both teachers - I am in my 7th year of teaching but have been living abroad for the last 3. We are now back in the UK, and I have started a maternity cover job until Easter. I am not sure I’ll qualify for maternity pay if I get pregnant whilst in this role, but I’m concerned that if I wait until I get a permanent position, I still won’t qualify until I have worked at least a year with my new school? Also obviously unsure if we will conceive straight away, so could be holding off and then end up waiting longer. Really not sure what to do, any advice massively appreciated.

Hi @SWJ90 I too am a teacher. Your friends might be right if you're working in a local authority school as their maternity rights will be outlined in something called the burgundy book.
Essentially:

1. To qualify for occupational maternity pay in the Burgundy Book, your workplace must be covered by the Burgundy Book and you must have been employed for at least one year and 11 weeks with one or more local authority by the expected week of childbirth.
2. The Burgundy Book maternity scheme does not apply to supply teachers who are employed in LA-maintained schools on a daily basis, either employed directly by the LA or school governing body or via a teaching agency.

The best thing to do is check your contract.

There should be policy documents stating what you will be entitled to and when. You will be entitled to 52 weeks leave but depending on the length of time you’ve had at the school this may only be statutory or maternity allowance.

it is possible to make it work on maternity allowance or stat pay and many people do. It mainly depends on your outgoings, your partners earnings and any savings you would use to get you by. You will have 9 months too to save up before you need to go off at least.

with your job only being maternity cover then I’m guessing it’s a temp contract and so I can’t see you being entitled to occupational mat pay. The best thing to do would be to try secure a permanent position asap, then check contract. You then only need to be in employment 1 year for may pay and you will be pregnant for 9 months of that! So I would try to get a permanent position, wait a few months then start trying .

hope you can work it out