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Original poster

teachers maternity pay-the summer hols???

26 replies

dennya · 22/10/2006 21:49

I started my maternity leave on the 4th June 2006 and it has ran through the summer holidays. Do I get any normal pay because of this being my usual holiday? I have tried deciphering the burgundy book scheme, but no joy!!

OP posts:
worcestercaroline · 22/10/2006 22:47

I just got normal mat pay, not normal holiday pay

incy · 23/10/2006 08:06

No, once you have started maternity leave just maternity pay through the holidays I am afraid (also a teacher). When (if) you go back it is worth considering going back just before a holiday begins rather than delaying it until after the holiday as this way you will return to normal pay through the hols. I had a colleage who returned from maternity leave on the Friday before the summer holiday started. She worked 1 day and got full pay for the next 6 weeks rather than being stuck on stat.maternity pay which would have happened if she'd gone back the first day of term in september.

Littlefish · 23/10/2006 08:42

I went back to work after maternity leave on the first day of the summer holidays and got paid through the summer

Original poster
dennya · 23/10/2006 09:38

Thanks everyone-if i went back the day before the xmas holidays would I get paid during the xmas hols?

OP posts:
incy · 23/10/2006 09:52

Yes you would so def go back before the holidays rather than after. Littlefish posted that she went back on the first day of the holidays so you may be able to do this. Unfortunately at my work if you wanted to return on a day during the holidays you had to produce a medical certificate saying you were fit to return on that day and the principal had the right to postpone your return for 28 days (hence my colleage went back on the last day of term for 1 day so they couldn't do this. )So best to check your rights with HR or your union. Good luck.

Original poster
dennya · 23/10/2006 09:56

Thanks. Think will phone NUT and get some advice. Would be nice if I got xmas pay. would be nice if I didnt have to go back at all, but thats a different story!!

OP posts:
Gillian76 · 23/10/2006 09:57

You should accrue extra holidays for your eave running through the summer. I would check it out.

Gillian76 · 23/10/2006 09:58

leave

incy · 23/10/2006 09:59

Not in teaching (well not in my college anyway)

Gillian76 · 23/10/2006 10:01

I did.

incy · 23/10/2006 10:05

Thiat is brilliant gillian76 -Best check with your union/HR dennya as would appear there are differences between schools - with us it was only support staff rather than teaching staff who got the hols back (as they were entitled to annual leave.)I am sure they make maternity pay as complex as possible deliberately !

Gillian76 · 23/10/2006 10:07

I'm in Scotland. We do have different conditions in some areas.

fizzbuzz · 23/10/2006 10:32

Started my mat leave on 4th June too! Unfortunately you do not get full pay over any holidays, I have checked and checked......You will only gat maternity pay. But what really me off, is you get less paid maternity leave as a teacher than you do as a council employee, despite the fact all teachers are employed by council!
Not sure you can go back for a Friday,as all mat leave has to start on a Sunday.
I never ever ever ever what to go back to work Never! Unfortunately I have to

Original poster
dennya · 23/10/2006 11:30

I also never want to go back !!! Its not fair!! ***y council get a better deal, why does that not suprise me. I may look into seeing whether I will get Dec full pay packet if I go back the Mon before we break up. I will let you all know, when I find out. I dont understand maternity pay. Wage slip never makes any sense to me!

OP posts:
incy · 23/10/2006 12:52

I know maternity leave has to start on a Sunday but think you can go back when you want as long as you give the appropriate notice (think it's still 28 days at the moment). It does seem that everywhere's different but one of my colleages def returned on a Friday because HR were really annoyed because it meant they had to pay her during the summer for one days work (good for her !)

Original poster
dennya · 25/10/2006 16:46

have spoke to NUT and appears you were right. if I go back to work the Mon before the xmas hols, I should get the Dec pay packet. Yippee-I wont starve at xmas.

OP posts:
incy · 25/10/2006 16:50

That is a relief - some compensation for going back to work ! Hope it goes well

somersetmum · 25/10/2006 21:24

You can go back to work on any day of the week, provided you have given the correct statutory written notice (four weeks) and your employer does not object. Your employer has the right to object and delay your return to work date by another four weeks if he/she has a valid reason. (For example: if they have to give your replacment more than four weeks notice or if there is a reason why it would not be in the best interests of the school for you to return when you want to - example: if the children are halfway through a project that is being taught by another teacher).

You accrue holiday pay during Ordinary Maternity Leave (i.e. the first 26 weeks when SMP is paid), to the statutory minimum of 20 days per annum. In the teaching profession, however, if you return after six months' maternity leave, you would still be getting atleast 20 days holiday in the remaining six months when you return, so therefore there would be no accrual to cover your maternity leave period.

The only time where a teacher may be entitled to accrued holiday pay would be if they take a full years' maternity leave. In this scenario, they would not have received any annual leave for that year, so they would be entitled to accrue at the statutory minimum of 20 days. However, they are only legally entitled to accrue for the first 26 weeks, so they would be entitled to 10 days holiday pay during the last month of their leave.

Original poster
dennya · 26/10/2006 06:17

Thanks somersetmum-You explained it all brilliantly. When I go back just before xmas, am I correct in thinking I will get my xmas paypacket. Thats what the NUT and other threads implied.

OP posts:
Original poster
dennya · 01/11/2006 08:46

Def going backon 11th now. Break up on 15th. Trade Union said I should get paid, but fellow teacher said I may only get part payment. Do any fellow teachers know whether it is likely to be full pay or part pay?

OP posts:
incy · 01/11/2006 09:41

Why part payment ? You have returned to work and so should be reinstated on full pay from the 11th. As has already been said the school could delay your return for up to 28 days but unless they do so your pay should commence on the 11th -the fact that there are holidays soon after should not matter.

As discoveed however, all schools are different so check with the union.

Original poster
dennya · 01/11/2006 10:13

Thanks for the reassurance! Union said full pay, so dont think I will listen to other teachers comments. Hopefully, HR can confirm one way or another soon.

OP posts:
Littlefish · 01/11/2006 15:54

Are you going back on the same terms and conditions as before? ie. were you full time before, and going back full time? If you were full time before, but going back part time, then you would obviously only be paid at a part time rate over the holidays as those are your new terms and conditions.

Original poster
dennya · 01/11/2006 15:55

Was doing 5 days but will be doing 4 when get back.

OP posts:
Littlefish · 01/11/2006 23:44

You will be paid for 4 days per week over the holidays then.