Teaching Assistant Resignation - To end before Summer Holidays

[TANOWAY]

I have done a search on this but can't find exactly what I'm looking for.

I understand that if I want the end of term to be my last day (let's say 20th July for argument's sake) then I should write something like:

I am writing to notify you that I will be resigning from my position as Teaching Assistant effective 20th July...

...and I would still be paid for the whole of August (my contract asks for four weeks notice).

If I was to give this letter in earlier to allow them time to recruit, if the Head decided to be vicious could they force my resignation to start earlier? For his case I'd hand this in gleefully on the last day of term. For the sake of my lovely colleagues I'd like to give the place time to recruit for September.

No, I don't think they can force you to resign earlier.

You need to be clearer on your wording though if you want to be paid over the summer. Perhaps something like,
I am writing to inform you that on the 31st July 2021 I give 4 weeks notice of my employment. My last working day will therefore be 31st August 2021. I understand that contractually I must give you 4 weeks notice, however I write to you with my formal intention to allow time for recruitment.

You must must must put 31st August as your date of leaving.
Your wording indicates your last day of being paid is 20th july.
A colleague of mine lost out by not doing this and assuming school would do the right thing.

Wow that's really helpful. Thank you both very much!

Most support staff contracts have a notice of termination clause in them which means that if you have worked the whole term, up to and including the last day of term, you are entitled to be paid over the holidays up to the end of August.

This is because equated pay and holiday periods are included in the annual salary for term time only staff.

Check the wording of your contract, but I think it will be fine.

You also need to give 31st August as your last working day so that if you start a new post in the same Local Authority or Academy chain you won't have a break in service. (This could be important if there were to be a redundancy situation in your new school.)

Thank you for the confirmation! Letter is written...just need to hand it in soon!