Requesting part time after mat leave, full pay during summer?

[Senorasurf]

I started maternity leave in September. I would like to return at the end of July in order to receive pay during the holidays as per my first maternity leave.
However, this time I am going to request to be part time for the new academic year. Am I allowed to request I start part time from September, but return to work in July and be paid full time until then?

Yes you can.

That's what I did. It was fine.

Yes, I did that - I actually went back full time as a head of faculty at the end of the summer term so got full time pay including my tlr through the holidays, before dropping down to part time without the tlr in September.

You could certainly legally do that, some Head Teachers might view it as quite unethical though.

That's great, thanks everyone.

Yes I did (and you don’t have to go back in July to get pay through the summer holidays, I ‘returned’ on the first day of summer hols and was paid for last week of July and all of August). PT started September 1st.

Couldn’t care less how ethical or otherwise any headteacher viewed it, it’s perfectly legal and you are entitled to do it.

Interesting that PPs managed this as I asked for the same and was told no and that post maternity leave ending my contract would be changed to part time immediately and that was that. So I kiss got paid for the summer hols at part time rate. I didn't fight it at the time.. maybe I should have, but I did feel a bit cheeky in the first place even though I think we shouldn't as we don't get annual leave in the usual way!

There is no automatic right to part time working although thankfully most employers have to find a reasonable reason why not. It also contrasts that you have to give 21 days notice of return to work (burgundy book), but should allow 3 months if making a flexible work request, so in theory, if you get permission early to be part time from the start of the next term and then apply to come back exactly 21 days to time with the start of the holidays you will be full time paid - so long as you weren't due back within those holiday dates, it would not be expected return. However, if due back say 30th July and have made a flexible working request, then as part of the flexible working agreement they could accept it, but from the 30th July (particularly given how tight budgets are and cost of recruitment) and that there is the requirement for equivalent of 13 weeks service post maternity, or may need to pay back oml. Yes holidays are different for teachers but there are advantages, particularly if you have school age children, with saving money on holiday childcare as no requirement to be available for work during the holiday period (equivalent of around £300 pre tax, ni, pension - teachers without children are the big losers as fixed holidays at expensive/busy times.

Yes I did this with my first mat leave. But it was more than 13 years ago now!

Also, bare in mind that the 13 weeks work you will 'owe' the school will be based on your full time days, so it will take you longer than 13 weeks to repay it if doing part time.

You should look up shared parental leave, it allowed me to get paid during Christmas holidays my normal wages as I asked '5
To return to work' and then asked for parental leave during the actual term, will be technically returning to work for the Easter holidays and the summer holiday. It's a lengthy form to fill and pretty new, only one other person had completed it at my school but it's well worth it. There is an article about it on TES.

My head teacher told me to do this. Said my contract would change 1st September so I would.get paid full over the summer.