Maternity question

[Evianbaby15]

1. How late did you take your maternity leave? Did you struggle if you were in the infants?
2. Is it possible to start mat leave from after half term (due 1st jan, hoping to go up until last day of term ans start mat leave from start of spring term)

I'm currently 34 weeks, finishing next week at the end of term...so I'll be 35 weeks. I'm in lower KS2 and it's really tough at the moment because my classroom is boiling! I'm starting to get tired and agitated and longing for next Friday.

You can start your maternity from whatever day you want, provided it's not more than 15 weeks before your due date I think.

The latest you can start it is your due date so you may have to start mat leave prior to holidays.

I was due on 1st January a few years ago!

Maternity leave for us (not sure if the same nation wide) started on a Sunday. So you can start your maternity leave either on your due date (if your LEA allows it) or the Sunday before.
You cannot start maternity leave until you are 29 weeks pregnant (I am currently on week 19 on my second maternity leave!)
Pregnancy 1: Worked until I was 36 +2. Took 8 months mat leave. Worked a week before six weeks holidays. Got full pay from 1 week before six weeks holidays began.
Pregnancy 2: Worked until I was 35 + 6 but due to two saturdays in half term, I was actually 36 + 1 when I started mat leave. DD1 arrived six days later!! Taking 10 months this time. Going back to work 3 days before xmas to go back to being paid but instead of full time, going back part time!

With DS, I worked full time until 37 weeks. My last official day was the Monday after a half term but was owed time in lieu so effectively finished on the Friday before but Mat leave started after, IYSWIM? Think that depends on your head/governors. It costs a fortune for someone to take mat leave!

I was in Reception until the end of the previous Summer term then Year 3 until I went on leave after Oct 1/2 term. Both year groups were fine.

This time I am only part time, Y2 but Reception after Summer holidays and will go on leave at 37 weeks again (end of Sept).

I think how you will cope depends on how your pregnancy has been. Or how much you need the money! I wanted the maximum time with DS until the pay stopped, so worked from that. I was playing netball with the Y3s in my last week, during a heatwave and was fine.

This time, I have the added joy of SPD and the pregnancy has been harder so would have struggled to do the same (although the addition of a toddler is probably what really makes it harder!)

Congratulations