KIT days cancelled?

[P19T]

Hi all,

I am posting for some advice if possible with a few questions that I hope you lovely people could offer some support with.

I am currently on maternity leave and due to return Feb 2024. I have been a teacher for 6 years in the primary sector. I believe I have been treated quite badly over the years and almost 'disposable'. I stay beyond my hours, work at home and have worked myself into the ground for that school with no recognition whatsoever.

Anyway, we all know that MAT pay is hideous so I have been asking to use my KIT days. I sent in some dates that suit with childcare and suggested what I can do (I am PP lead) and also to keep in touch with the school regarding training ect as there is a ridiculous amount to do and I refuse to do it when I am not being paid. I think we all do enough beyond our pay!

They have told me that I can't come in unless it is an inset day, this seems incredibly unfair. Other members of staff have been in doing pretty much nothing on their maternity leave. I take all this treatment so personally and I really believe they don't like me, which does hurt.

I am planning to move on as soon as possible, does anyone know how long I need to return to 'pay back' my maternity money? I would speak to HR but I know they'll go straight to my boss and I will get a grilling.

Thanks so much,
A very fed up teacher x

If you're in a LA school it will be in the Burgundy book - 13 weeks (which includes school holidays). If you were full time before it has to be 13 weeks full time, so if you go back part time it would take longer.

Google 'burgundy book maternity' to find the details. If you're in an academy your conditions could be different.

It sounds pretty crap the way your school are behaving. So frustrating.

As per pp, it is 13 weeks or pay it all back. There is no pro rata if you go back for 12 weeks. Holidays count though.

All my KIT days at 2 different schools were just when they needed supply. Neither school was willing to pay me to actually Keep in Touch. It's rubbish.

You also have to stick to the standard resignation dates (unless by mutual agreement).
If you return in February, you probably won't have done your 13 weeks by the end of April. That then means you're stuck until 31st August (although it would mean you get the summer holiday pay).
If you are keen to leave as soon as possible, then you might want to count the 13 weeks back from the end of April, and bring your return from maternity leave earlier if necessary. (Your partner might be able to take some shared parental leave so nursery doesn't have to start immediately.) Get your union to check the dates for you - I'm not sure whether it's 91 days or 13 full weeks or what.

Note that the resignation date at Easter is officially 30th April, but with the understanding that if someone moves to a new school, they will actually transfer on the first day of the summer term if that is earlier. However if you are not going to a new school, they must allow you to leave wef 30th April. Quite often, there is a mutual agreement to leave at the Easter holiday, so that the new teacher starts at the beginning of term, but you would only be able to agree to that if they also agreed to waive the 13 week requirement.

As pp have said it is 13 weeks and they can and will hold you to this. However it is only the 'enhanced' portion of the pay so depending on how much this is you might wish to consider taking the hit and repaying it, if you can afford to. I had to do this due to relocation and the local authority broke it down into instalments for me.

Otherwise I would take @lanthanum's excellent advice, count back 13 weeks from 30 April and consider going back a few weeks earlier than planned (so the end of January) so that you can resign by 28 February and leave at Easter.