Changing schools at Easter/pay

[TeachingMum1608]

Just wondered if anyone can shed any light whilst I wait for the Union advice line to be open again!
I am due to start at my new school after Easter ( I finished at previous school 31st March/start of Easter). My contract offer stated that I was employed at my new school from 1/4/23. On the 5th March I received an email from HR of the new school’s trust with an ‘amended’ contract offer with a start date of 17/4/23. This means I have no pay over the two week Easter break.
Are they allowed to do this? Had I known that my start date was 17/4, I would have needed to find some temporary work over the Easter break. I’m unsure of the legality of it and it feels morally wrong to me.
Anyone been in a similar situation? I’m spending Easter worried about how I’ll pay my mortgage next month (single parent family) - TIA

It would be usual for a new job to start at the beginning of the term, had you already signed the original one starting on 1/4? Was your contract in your last job permanent? If so you should be paid until the end of the holidays and this should have been your resignation date in your letter. If it was a temporary or maternity cover then it is quite common for them not to pay the holiday (which always seems wrong) but you would have been aware of this when you signed up.

Morning, I accepted the job based on the offer letter that stated 1/4/23 but haven’t had to sign a contract yet.
So my previous school would be liable for the Easter period? I did put my last day as 14/3 in my resignation. However, it was an independent school who aren’t very good at following rules/guidelines, and I fully expect that I will receive nothing else pay-wise. They wanted me to stay until the end of summer term so they weren’t happy about me leaving anyway.

Sorry, meant 14/4 was resignation date

I know it's hard waiting, but your union will sort it out. Indies are notorious for trying it on - I know because I'm in one myself and a union rep . Your term time pay includes an element on holiday pay, so of course they will have to honour the holidays. I imagine a stiff email from your union to the head will resolve matters.

Thank you. I’ll definitely get onto the union Tuesday. Just annoyed that the new school have made this start date change only now. If I’d have known the start date didn’t cover Easter, I’d have made sure that I had written confirmation of pay up til 14/3. They’ll find it easier to try it on now I’m not there! Thanks for your reply, appreciate it.

I had this panic a few years ago. In the end, old school paid me until end of their holidays; new school paid me from start of their term. I think it relates to accrued holiday? So you’ve accrued holiday pay at your old school by working from Jan-March? (I don’t have any evidence of this though!)

New school definitely messed up by sending you the wrong contract though. I think you’d be able to fight that if necessary.

Thank you! I’m panicking because my previous school was independent and definitely likely to not pay me without chasing it 🙈 Because my new school were employing me from the start of Easter, I wasn’t worried. But now… I’ll see what union advice is I guess!