Mat leave clawback

[FTMaz]

Hi all
not sure this is the right place but hoping other mums will have similar experience

I am a teacher who has decided not to return after maternity pay. My school was joining a new trust at the time and there was no maternity policy available so I was told to use the school’s. It states in there that the school MAY request the money to be paid back. I am safeguarding lead in my school and due to this I met with the headteacher to tell him that I wouldn’t be returning only 8 weeks after DS was born to allow him to recruit someone decent in time. The head told me he had never requested mat money back but the trust might. Anyway if the trust do decide to do this (which I think is likely) how can they enforce it? I would like to fight it based on extra things I’ve done for the school which I won’t detail here but there is no doubt I’ve gone above and beyond in my job. If they still insist it needs to be payed back, how so? They don’t owe me any money so how would they actually get it back? If anyone in education has any experience of this would be great.

Thanks

@FTMaz Maybe have a chat to Pregnant then Screwed? I don't know how the money is reclaimed - I assume they just send you letters and demand you pay it (and could technically take you to court if you dont?) but really don't know

This sounds counter-productive but hear me out...

Check the trust's policy. If they are claiming it back, they usually say you have to go back to work for a certain length of time before you can keep it. Can you go back to work, just for that time (including this time in the notice period).

Not only would you not have to pay anything back, but you'd also get paid for the short time you are there.

You can be honest with head, tell him your plans - he has to give you your job back either way (or an equivalent if already recruited to replace you, you could eve ask for a part time admin role to see out the notice/correct timings).

Can't you just go back for the minimum time while playing out your notice? You'd get paid, plus not have to pay back mat leave - win-win?