Parental Leave - even for teachers?

[HelenC]

Hi,

Just wondered if anyone out there had managed to take parental leave (the 13wk allocation of unpaid leave you can take up until your child is 5)

I am a teacher and would like 2 weeks unpaid during term time. The LEA have never heard of this law and don't think I will be eligible. They say that no-one can have 2weeks just to be with their family and I can only have time off if my child is ill.

I actually want the leave as my husband works away all the time and this is the only chance we will get to all be together.

Any experiences/advcice please
thanks

I took 8 weeks parental leave after my maternity leave had ended. Reason being that I was getting married 6 weeks after i was due to be back at work and there seemed no point in returning to work just to take another month off in a few weeks. My boss was fine about it (didn't want me back just to organise my wedding!) but it took a bit of effort to get it past HR who didn't want to set a precedent. It is part of the European directive which was introduced a year or two ago and applies to everyone with a child under 5 so you are eligible. Have a look at this website www.dti.gov.uk/er/parental_leave.htm - this is a quote from it

"Parents can use it to spend more time with children and strike a better balance between their work and family commitments. The leave is unpaid."

Good luck

HelenC, your LEA is being very naughty. I am bringing up my baby in a queer family - me, my female partner, the gay man who provided the wherewithal, IYKWIM, and his partner. BOTH daddies have had no problem getting parental leave: the non-bio dad works for a big computer consultancy who have fallen over themselves to be helpful as they see work-life balance etc etc as both an equal opportunities issue and a matter of keeping highly skilled staff happy.

If he can get parental leave 'just to be with his family', it's a scandal that your LEA is querying it for you. Contact the Maternity Alliance if they remain stubborn.

I've just checked the Regulations on Parental leave and there doesn't seem to be any categories of exempted workers. You do need a years continuous service so if your employer is emplying you on a term by term basis then you may have problems.

If the Lea are having problems finding the relevant legislation, you may wish to point them in the direction of the Maternity and Parental leave Regulations 1999 (Statutory Instrument No.1999/3312) and the amendment Regulations SI2001/4010. Both sets of Regulations are available on the internet at www.hmso.gov.uk

HTH.

Yep, the regulations are there alright. In my experience LEAs can often be slow on the uptake as far as Employment Law is concerned. Often they do have their own separate agreements so that might be worth checking, although it doesn't sound like it.

Speak to ACAS or your Union, both will be able to help.

Teachers often get the short end of the stick regarding their employment rights so stick to your guns HelenC. Just because you get 'good holidays' doesn't mean to say you can't have parental leave too.