Teacher maternity pay

[SWJ90]

Please move if I’ve put this in the wrong section!

I need some help with figuring out my maternity pay entitlement. My current school has me on a fixed term contract (1 year), they wish to renew my contract next year, starting as permanent from September.

my question is, if I were to become pregnant in 2025, will I qualify for occupational mat pay? Or will the 1 year of service as a fixed term employee not count towards this?

As far as I can see on the union website it simply says X amount of months “continuous service”, which is a little unclear.

Second question- how great is the diff between stat pay and occupational? Im worried it won’t be doable without occupational but don’t want to keep waiting and waiting..

Short term contracts contribute to continuous service.

Admittedly I had my children a long time ago (well 2005)
From my experience then, I think it will be continuous service, my LEA you could move schools within the LEA and still have continuous service for maternity leave.
Occupational pay was 6 weeks 90%, 12 weeks at 1/2 pay, then the rest statutory.
I didn't take Occupational as you had to pay it back if you didn't return and I knew I was having a few years off.
My son was born at the end of August which meant I could have most of the summer holidays at full pay only starting Mat leave the day he was born.

It’s continuous service with the employer so you should be entitled to statutory as long as you’ve been there long enough.

Occupational though is what you really want. Statutory is about £180 per week, occupational totally depends on your employer. Some places do 6 months full pay, my friend is a teacher and their occupational was only 6 weeks full pay, the rest statutory. Check your contract though because it may well say to be entitled to occupational you have to be in permanent position for 12 months, I know mine does x

Does your current contract end on the 31st of August or the end of term? Check if this makes a difference to what constitutes continuous service.

The problem is, I’m not sure who to ask because I know if I drop the slightest hint that I might be pregnant next year, they are less likely to give me a permanent contract. I haven’t actually got the contract yet so I’m trying to get one sorted before asking too many questions.
They specifically give fixed term contracts as there are so many members of the dept off on Mat leave already!

Occupational maternity pay is only 6 weeks extra pay anyway (unless you’re at a MAT with super maternity pay). So I wouldn’t worry about it too much.

Ask colleagues if they follow the burgundy book?