When to submit part time hours request

[FantasticMrsFoxx]

I'm just about to go on maternity leave and am planning to take 10 months off before returning to work 30 hours per week (hopefully!).
When should I submit my flexible working request: before MatLeave, during MatLeave or during holidays I'll have accrued before I have to go back to the office?.

If you work for a decent company then I'd say ask as soon as possible - gives them more of a chance to plan. If you leave it till late then it might be harder for them to accommodate the request even if they want to.

Probably better for you to know the score ASAP too I'd have thought.

Thanks for your advice. I'll mention it to my manager this week. There's a company application form we have to use but I'll scope out his views first. As a FTM to be, I guess I wasn't sure how I'd feel further down the line but it'll be good to have it configured for childcare planning too.
Can't afford not to return but want to spend time with my new baby too!

Hope it goes well. It should do if they're a decent company - mine was fine, (even though I work with a team in the US for whom even the maternity leave was quite a novel concept!).