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Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

Original poster

Teacher maternity

26 replies

Krissy09 · 04/09/2024 22:00

Hi guys I have a few questions for those who are teachers.

if I opt to be an examiner this year will that effect my Mat pay ? I wanted to mark some AQA papers for extra income.

I am due in late December did anyone take time off before term ended eg we break up 16th December or did you start on babies due date. What would you recommend? This is my first pregnancy

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ab03 · 05/09/2024 11:26

I'm not a teacher but from my understanding of parental leave and from teacher friends, I think you might be best off financially by planning to start your maternity leave very close to your due date, as that would mean that you still get to go on leave for Christmas from 16th December but you don't have to use up your maternity leave until the end of the break, so you effectively get two extra weeks of paid leave. You might be unlucky and the baby could come early but in that case your maternity leave just starts automatically. I personally had two weeks off work before my baby was born and that felt like plenty, but some people do have more issues working later, and being a teacher and on your feet a lot might mean you feel you need to go off earlier.

In terms of extra income, my understanding is that you are not legally allowed to claim maternity leave if you are working and earning money in any way - I think there is info on the government website about this.

Original poster
Krissy09 · 05/09/2024 17:09

ab03 · 05/09/2024 11:26

I'm not a teacher but from my understanding of parental leave and from teacher friends, I think you might be best off financially by planning to start your maternity leave very close to your due date, as that would mean that you still get to go on leave for Christmas from 16th December but you don't have to use up your maternity leave until the end of the break, so you effectively get two extra weeks of paid leave. You might be unlucky and the baby could come early but in that case your maternity leave just starts automatically. I personally had two weeks off work before my baby was born and that felt like plenty, but some people do have more issues working later, and being a teacher and on your feet a lot might mean you feel you need to go off earlier.

In terms of extra income, my understanding is that you are not legally allowed to claim maternity leave if you are working and earning money in any way - I think there is info on the government website about this.

ah I okay, I double checked and I break up Friday 20th December and due the week after. It’s hard to decide what’s best lol

OP posts:
WelcomeToTheFamily · 05/09/2024 17:23

Have a look into shared parental leave if you are a teacher.
I used it and have been paid for Easter, May and summer holidays and I go back to work in October having taken a full year of leave.

BeingATwatItsABingThing · 05/09/2024 17:27

Definitely put your DD as your start date for mat leave. You’ll be off work regardless so may as well get longer paid after.

My understanding is that sats marking ends your statutory mat pay.

Original poster
Krissy09 · 07/09/2024 11:57

Ah I see thank you

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Original poster
Krissy09 · 07/09/2024 11:58

WelcomeToTheFamily · 05/09/2024 17:23

Have a look into shared parental leave if you are a teacher.
I used it and have been paid for Easter, May and summer holidays and I go back to work in October having taken a full year of leave.

Thank you I am currently looking into this. When do you think I should look to start spl?

OP posts:
Shinyandnew1 · 07/09/2024 12:07

One of mine was due the week before Christmas and I left at the start of November. I was massive and shattered-definitely ready to go.

I left at Easter with my eldest who was born at the start of June. Some people go right up till nearly at the birth though-depends how you feel.

Original poster
Krissy09 · 07/09/2024 15:30

Shinyandnew1 · 07/09/2024 12:07

One of mine was due the week before Christmas and I left at the start of November. I was massive and shattered-definitely ready to go.

I left at Easter with my eldest who was born at the start of June. Some people go right up till nearly at the birth though-depends how you feel.

I see currently I feel fine but it’s hard to know how I will feel once I am bigger

OP posts:
ridl14 · 08/09/2024 11:58

Hi I'm also pregnant (16w) and a teacher. I'm due 20 Feb which is during my half term so my current plan is to go on half term and try and start my mat leave after the half term so that the half term is counted as (paid) holiday and not as one of my mat leave weeks. That's if the baby doesn't come on or before the due date, which I ofc can't predict.

I'm also looking at shared parental leave, I've been advised to use the option on the website to have them make the application for you, I think it's £60 and has a 100% approval rate.

One option would be to try and last until the end of term especially if you're currently full time, try to start mat leave after the Christmas holidays if baby is overdue at all (you mentioned you're due the week after the 20 December?).

Though if baby is due quite close to that 20 December deadline and you need more rest (tbh I know that last week of term can be a bit of a write-off but autumn 2 is also killer!) then you could consider going on leave a week before th Christmas holidays. You could then apply to use SPL to be paid over Christmas, Easter and summer (leave can only be in 3 blocks) and hopefully it would mean you come back to work - assuming you're taking a year - the week before Christmas holidays, probably have some time for planning and get put on easy cover, then you're on holiday again until the Spring term.

Personally I'd like as much time off with the baby as possible and colleagues who've gone off very early (eg a month before the due date) have said they were bored at home so that's factored in my decision making.

Original poster
Krissy09 · 08/09/2024 15:02

ridl14 · 08/09/2024 11:58

Hi I'm also pregnant (16w) and a teacher. I'm due 20 Feb which is during my half term so my current plan is to go on half term and try and start my mat leave after the half term so that the half term is counted as (paid) holiday and not as one of my mat leave weeks. That's if the baby doesn't come on or before the due date, which I ofc can't predict.

I'm also looking at shared parental leave, I've been advised to use the option on the website to have them make the application for you, I think it's £60 and has a 100% approval rate.

One option would be to try and last until the end of term especially if you're currently full time, try to start mat leave after the Christmas holidays if baby is overdue at all (you mentioned you're due the week after the 20 December?).

Though if baby is due quite close to that 20 December deadline and you need more rest (tbh I know that last week of term can be a bit of a write-off but autumn 2 is also killer!) then you could consider going on leave a week before th Christmas holidays. You could then apply to use SPL to be paid over Christmas, Easter and summer (leave can only be in 3 blocks) and hopefully it would mean you come back to work - assuming you're taking a year - the week before Christmas holidays, probably have some time for planning and get put on easy cover, then you're on holiday again until the Spring term.

Personally I'd like as much time off with the baby as possible and colleagues who've gone off very early (eg a month before the due date) have said they were bored at home so that's factored in my decision making.

Thank you, this is really helpful. I am due due during the Christmas holidays so I don’t think I can start it after Christmas as I am due 27th

OP posts:
Shrubb157 · 08/09/2024 15:16

Definitely do the SPL ( the link above someone shared is invaluable-it saved me so much money with my second compared to my first).

The only thing I'd say is when choosing your three 'blocks' is to leave them until later in your mat leave when you're on statutory otherwise a lot of your income will be eaten up by tax if you're still on full pay/50%.

With a December due date I'd be looking to claim SPL during the October half term, summer and May (or Easter)

baby2boo · 08/09/2024 15:27

You can pay teachersspl to complete all the shared parental leave forms for you and they work out the best times to get the most money. It was around £50 when I did it a couple of years ago, but well worth it as they got me about 8 weeks extra full pay and I didn’t have the stress of filling the forms in.

Msgiggles30 · 08/09/2024 15:50

I am due similar time to you. I have decided to start mat leave on the 9th December as this works our perfectly for shared parental leave as you don't want to take any before week 18 and lose any enchanced mat pay. From the 9th 18 weeks takes me exactly up to Easter hols so I will get full pay for Easter, may and summer hols using blocked of SPL then return after october half term. HR worked it all out for me!

ItTook9Years · 08/09/2024 15:52

ab03 · 05/09/2024 11:26

I'm not a teacher but from my understanding of parental leave and from teacher friends, I think you might be best off financially by planning to start your maternity leave very close to your due date, as that would mean that you still get to go on leave for Christmas from 16th December but you don't have to use up your maternity leave until the end of the break, so you effectively get two extra weeks of paid leave. You might be unlucky and the baby could come early but in that case your maternity leave just starts automatically. I personally had two weeks off work before my baby was born and that felt like plenty, but some people do have more issues working later, and being a teacher and on your feet a lot might mean you feel you need to go off earlier.

In terms of extra income, my understanding is that you are not legally allowed to claim maternity leave if you are working and earning money in any way - I think there is info on the government website about this.

The second bit is wrong. You can’t work for the employer paying maternity but you can work for others/self employed.

Msgiggles30 · 08/09/2024 15:56

Sorry for my typos! Won't let me edit the post.

Original poster
Krissy09 · 08/09/2024 18:22

Msgiggles30 · 08/09/2024 15:50

I am due similar time to you. I have decided to start mat leave on the 9th December as this works our perfectly for shared parental leave as you don't want to take any before week 18 and lose any enchanced mat pay. From the 9th 18 weeks takes me exactly up to Easter hols so I will get full pay for Easter, may and summer hols using blocked of SPL then return after october half term. HR worked it all out for me!

I see so you aren’t taking maternity pay until it goes to statutory ? sorry if I read this wrong.

would switching to spl in time for Easter work ? As I think I should be on statutory by then or maybe before. 1 block Easter 1 block in summer and last October half term ? Would that work ?

OP posts:
Original poster
Krissy09 · 08/09/2024 18:30

ItTook9Years · 08/09/2024 15:52

The second bit is wrong. You can’t work for the employer paying maternity but you can work for others/self employed.

Show quote history

I’ve just read this properly I understand you now. Have you got your forms ready to be sent off ?

OP posts:
WhiskersPete · 08/09/2024 18:35

You definitely can mark exams for AQA when on maternity as it's classed as being self-employed so doesn't affect your maternity pay. I did it last year.

Original poster
Krissy09 · 08/09/2024 19:07

WhiskersPete · 08/09/2024 18:35

You definitely can mark exams for AQA when on maternity as it's classed as being self-employed so doesn't affect your maternity pay. I did it last year.

ah okay thank you

OP posts:
ItTook9Years · 08/09/2024 21:52

Krissy09 · 08/09/2024 18:30

I’ve just read this properly I understand you now. Have you got your forms ready to be sent off ?

Show quote history

Eh?

Msgiggles30 · 08/09/2024 22:58

Yes HR did the forms and literally said get your head to sign then send back to them when you have matb1 so just waiting for that. I did not need to pay anyone. They set up a teams and went through it all with me! I was shocked how easy it was and how willing they were to give it.

So basically I will be on 2 weeks full then 4 weeks 90%, then 12 weeks of enhanced half pay + smp which takes me exactly up to Easter half term where I will "return" and gain full pay. I will then "go back on mat leave" when summer term starts and will drop to smp until may half term where I will take another week at full pay and then again be on smp until I do the same for the 6 weeks summer. Smp will then be paid for Sept and October before I return to work in the November. Hope that makes sense! My last block of leave will end on the Friday before the October holidays so that I will also get paid this holiday and return 1st day of autumn 2. If I wanted the full year nov/Dec would be unpaid. At the moment I don't think I can afford that but can always reassess and change mind later on with 28 days notice.

Sara1988 · 08/09/2024 23:08

@Msgiggles30 my school's hr department were super unhelpful and got loads of things wrong (which I found surprising cause lots of staff have done spl before me including assistant head and head teacher is very supportive) so I paid the spl company. Was well worth £65 though

ohfook · 08/09/2024 23:12

@ridl14 are you in England? My understanding is you can't start your maternity leave after the baby arrives even if that falls in a holiday. You could start it literally the day the baby got here though.

ridl14 · 09/09/2024 20:37

Shrubb157 · 08/09/2024 15:16

Definitely do the SPL ( the link above someone shared is invaluable-it saved me so much money with my second compared to my first).

The only thing I'd say is when choosing your three 'blocks' is to leave them until later in your mat leave when you're on statutory otherwise a lot of your income will be eaten up by tax if you're still on full pay/50%.

With a December due date I'd be looking to claim SPL during the October half term, summer and May (or Easter)

Oh this is such good advice! Thank you, tax isn't something I'd considered 🙏🏼