Holiday pay

[zeebra]

This is my first thread but I am a long time lurker. I have just completed a maternity leave cover post at a Primary school. I finished on the 12th February 2016 which was the day of the start of half term. My offer letter did state these dates but I assumed these were the dates I would need to be in work. I have done several shorter term posts and have always been paid for the holidays including the whole of last summer for just working one term.

Anyway I did well there. There were no problems as far as I am aware. I got my pay slip this morning and I have not been paid for half term. It is not a mistake I have checked. Has anyone else experienced working till the last day of term and not being paid in the holidays? I was pro rata so not on supply terms. I have spoken to my union who say this is unusual but is actually a gentlemen's agreement but as I am currently not working this will leave me very short and make things quite difficult for me. Anyway, how usual is this and is there anything I can do about it? Thank you in advance for any advice.

I'm a HT and my payroll have always told me that if someone works until the last day of term I have to pay them until the end of the holiday.

Thank you maid up mum- that is what I thought. I have even written resignation letters before saying my last working day will be the 34th mars which being the last day of term has the holidays straight after because it is just assumed that if you work the last day, you are paid for them. Has anyone else had a problem with this?

Maternity, as is often the way, is different. It does depend what dates were given and when the teacher actually returns. If they return before the holiday then they get paid for the holiday, not you! Read the school pay policy, it should make it really clear.

I was there all day on the last day before half term and the girl returned on the Monday after half term. I don't have a copy of their pay and conditions policy and don't work there now so not sure how I would get hold of one. I have undertaken many temporary posts and never had this problem. Like in all jobs you are accruing holiday as you work and therefore if you work till the last day, it is assumed you are paid for the holidays. This can even happen over the long holidays. I will struggle for money which I know is not anyone's fault but as a single parent not receiving maintenance and not yet secured a new job, it is not going to be an easy ride. The only reason I didn't look for another job was I was trying but it was taking up valuable time and felt that I wasn't able to put 100% into my job so as it was a short term I thought I could just about manage. Loyalty obviously doesn't always go both ways!