Maternity Leave Teaching Assistant

[BloomingSunflower]

Wanting a bit of advice and other people’s experiences in a similar situation to me.

I am currently 15 weeks pregnant with my first longed for baby. For some context, we had 6 years of trying and several miscarriages, and I am starting to think about maternity leave.

I work in a primary school, primarily with KS2. It can be a highly stressful job, working with some challenging children and behaviour. That being said, the team I work with are incredibly supportive, and I work really well with the teacher.

I’m not due until the 29th June, and was originally thinking of not going back after May half term (ML would start on 2/6 at 36+1) However, I’m not sure if this is too early and I will regret not having more time off once baby is here. Equally, I’m not sure if it’s worth just going back for a week or 2 after half term. I’m feeling quite torn about what the right thing to do is.

Just wanted to gage similar experiences from others in a similar working environment if at all possible. Thanks in advance.

all good to think about but personally I wouldn’t make a decision yet. By 36 weeks your could be absolutely fine and feel happy to go to 38, or you may have begun to struggle to be on your feet and feeling more uncomfortable and sore. I’d just see how you go. I planned to finish at 38 weeks with my first, she arrived at 36+1 herself 😂

I'm a teacher and I planned on working up until 38 weeks. I ended up finishing at 36 because I was just exhausted! Baby came the day after I was meant to finish. Just judge it closer to the time. Also look into shared parental leave as you should be able to get paid for the school holidays during your maternity leave x

I’m feeling quite torn about what the right thing to do is.

There is no 'right' thing to do-it's very personal. I went at 32 weeks (teaching) with mine as I was so tired being on my feet all day. Other colleagues have gone right up to a few weeks before the due date.

I’m going back a long way as DS is now 18.
However, I was a one to one TA for a child with challenging behaviours when I was pregnant. DS was due at the end of August, I planned on working until the end of the year but actually found I couldn’t do the job much earlier- I ended up finishing at May 1/2 term which was actually 28 weeks but 1/2 term took me up to the earliest possible date of 29 weeks.

That said I knew I wasn’t going back (back then it would have cost £200 ish more than my salary for the nursery hours we would have needed and I wasn’t missing my baby to look after somebody else’s to be worse off) so I knew I didn’t need to get the maximum the other end.

When do your school really want to know by? If they aren't rushed I would wait and see how you are. My son was due on the 14th Feb and I went at Christmas. I was exhausted in those last few weeks, plus I was huge and wobbly and it was icy, so it was the right decision 100%. However May should be nice weather. You might be good for that last month, you might not.

How long will you have for mat leave? I had a year, so I would say you won't really miss a couple of extra weeks with the baby overall and it will be good to have some time to sort things. So between Jan and 1st March when I went to be induced, I got everything ready in the nursery etc. I guess I COULD have worked that last month, but I don't think I ever thought "oh it would have been really nice to have another month off", I guess it was just 11 months not 12 and by then there was little difference between the too. Also, if you are having a year, you won't have a teeny weeny babe, who changes VERY VERY fast. Like if you were saying do I want 2 months or 3 months off after the baby is born, yes a 3 month old is much bigger and more robust than a 2 month old, but 11 to 12 months is less different.

Thank you all. I know it’s very very early but I’m an overthinker and want to plan financially. I’m not sure at the moment whether we will be able to afford for me to have the whole year, I need a full breakdown of pay I think before making a final decision on that.

@HEIHEI23 i hadn’t even considered shared parental leave, I’ve googled and I am still none the wiser on how it works lol! My partner is our main income so I think it makes sense for me to take the full leave.

It's much easier to bring your last day forwards than to pick it back. So I'd pencil in the last possible date you think you might want to leave, then go earlier if you need. The midwife/ GP will always sign you off if you need it if school are awkward.

Your partner doesn't need to take leave! So basically you "go back to work" for the holidays and get full pay. There's a website called spl for teachers that's really good!

I work in a school (pastoral side) and I’ll be taking the full year with the final 13 weeks unpaid. I’m planning on going at 37 weeks… Though I’m mostly in an office, I have a high level of stress and solo work, it’s absolutely draining - I’d love to finish earlier but I want as much time with baby as possible whilst also giving myself (hopefully!) a few weeks to relax before baby comes. I used to be a TA so I understand the demands of the job! It’s hard work. Although finishing at half term would be lovely, if you could finish just after half term it might be worth it though it’s completely up to you. I’m finishing a week before half term because I just can’t do any more lol.

Whatever decision you make is completely personal and will depend on how you feel but there is no right or wrong answer! Congratulations on your pregnancy!

I went off at 36 weeks, I had planned to have 2 weeks annual leave then my maternity started, thank god I did because those two annual leave weeks I had the best time resting and nesting and the day my maternity started baby came I really felt like I had time to rest and prepare