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Original poster

Would you take stress leave during notice after being underpaid at school?

48 replies

Loveparis77 · 17/05/2026 09:30

First post here today!

I'll try and keep this brief.

I work part time in a school in a non-teaching role although I am a qualified teacher. The school is aware that I am a teacher so they have taken advantage basically - I have been teaching classes and doing a lot more than my role should include. In many ways, I regret this because I get paid an absolute pittance but it has been useful because the experience has helped me to get the new job I will be starting in September. However the school is refusing to pay me fairly for this work stating that these responsibilities fall within the scope of my role but they clearly don't (I'm paid as a Level 1 TA).

(If anyone is wondering why I took a low paid job when I am a qualified teacher, it's because I needed the flexibility as I am a carer for my disabled child).

I have now put in my notice due to being offered a new job but unfortunately my notice period is two months of which I still have to work 5 weeks. I have a slightly challenging home situation at the moment as my disabled son has been unable to attend school as the placement broke down so I am now homeschooling him. We have had help from family to support but it has been difficult to balance this with work. I have explained this situation to work but they haven't allowed me to reduce my notice period despite me explaining everything. They also won't pay me for the additional teaching I have been doing.

To summarise, the job and the low pay is not worth it for the amount of inconvenience and stress it is causing me at the moment and not being able to get out of the contract earlier. I am tempted to be signed off with stress for the last few weeks to allow me to support my disabled son. What would you do?

OP posts:
Lovingbooks · 17/05/2026 09:58

Sorry but your post is a bit hard to follow but I would Work the notice but don’t go beyond your TA role. I understand that you want to support your son but obviously if you have taken on a new job for September this won’t be a consideration so struggling to understand why now this is difficult to work and care for him. Don’t confuse the two issues. The stress doesn’t seem to be work caused (although I get that you have raised the issue about pay) but your caring responsibilities alongside work, do school know about your son? Are you his registered carer? My work had a carer policy allowed emergency leave etc have you investigated this before getting signed off?

WydeStrype · 17/05/2026 10:00

Is the job you start in September secured? I would not do anything to jeopardise that.

Personally I would work my notice to the best of my ability. But you would be well within your rights to write to the limits of the role you are paid for.

User1839423790 · 17/05/2026 10:00

Yes speak to your GP and get signed off. Then you can concentrate on supporting your son and trying to arrange a new placement for Sept if that’s your plan.

REDB99 · 17/05/2026 10:02

Just don’t do the extra work? Why are you letting them take advantage like that? Contact your union and get a meeting with the HT and rep and clarify exactly what your duties are. Although for 5 weeks is it worth it?

It’s only 5 weeks so I’d be inclined to just carry on. Teaching is a very small world and you never know when you’ll come across colleagues again.

Well done on the new position.

Willowskyblue · 17/05/2026 10:03

Why are you allowing them to take advantage of you? Just don’t do the work and work your notice, as planned! Speak to your union too.
Your situation at home is separate from your work situation. Good luck.

pinkdelight · 17/05/2026 10:08

It’s not like a shop where the boss can just top up your pay from the takings. If they had the budget they’d have covered the classes with a supply teacher. You can absolutely refuse to do what’s beyond your job description if you wish but they can’t top up your pay at this point. Agree the stress is related to the home situation so look into parental leave possibilities, which may be paid or unpaid. I’d work my notice if I could make it work but wouldn’t let them take the piss with workload.

midwalker · 17/05/2026 10:08

A notice period doesn’t have any legal standing. If you said you were leaving tomorrow, all they could do is sue you for costs related to having to replace you for 5 weeks- and in a school that is never going to happen! In this situation yes I’d ask your GP to sign you off. Or if your new job is secure, then you could just tell them bye bye…

Original poster
Loveparis77 · 17/05/2026 10:18

Thank you for the messages, a mixed bag of responses!

I think my original post was quite clear. My son is now recently out of school so I now have to homeschool him which I didn't have to do before. I asked to shorten my notice period due to this unusual circumstance but they said no.

In terms of the teaching, I offered to do extra teaching because there was a promise of being paid a top up bonus for this but unfortunately the amount they have now offered to pay is not a fair amount for the amount of work and associated responsibility such as reporting, assessment etc. I can't now just refuse to teach because it is now part of my timetable and expected of me even though they will not pay me fairly for it so basically I agreed to it on false pretences from them.

I appreciate the responses but I'm not sure everyone read my original post fully. The reason it will be difficult for me to fulfill my notice is because I now have my son at home full time being homeschooled due to a school placement breakdown. Previously he was at school so this is a recent change in my circumstances.

OP posts:
Original poster
Loveparis77 · 17/05/2026 10:21

But yes thankfully my new post for September is secure - they have my references and I have signed my contract. I agree that I don't want to jeopardize that either! My new job will be only two days a week so much easier to manage between myself and my partner

OP posts:
rwalker · 17/05/2026 10:21

I think you’ll just have to suck it up
you agreed to work sorry to be harsh but it’s your own fault for not checking how much you would be paid

Original poster
Loveparis77 · 17/05/2026 10:23

I know what you mean - I did agree, but like I say it was false pretences from them. I was offered a lump sum for one half term's teaching which seemed a fair amount and assumed I would receive the same for the subsequent half term but it was only later than they tried to claim that the original amount would cover both half terms despite originally indicating otherwise

OP posts:
PrincessOfPreschool · 17/05/2026 10:27

What will you do about your son in Sept? Can this school tell the other school that you have left due to 'personal issues' and make it difficult in your next role?

Original poster
Loveparis77 · 17/05/2026 10:29

Yeah I know I would be cautious of that too. My new job for September is only two days a week so we can manage it between myself and my partner

OP posts:
PrincessOfPreschool · 17/05/2026 10:29

Sorry, just saw your update. In that case, I would say you need reduced hours/ parental leave for your notice. Take it or leave it.

Original poster
Loveparis77 · 17/05/2026 10:31

I think I will probably just have to 'suck it up' but it has definitely been a lesson in not taking low paid jobs and going over and above for free!

I will definitely be taking all of my full lunch breaks, arriving and leaving on time for the next 5 weeks but I will consider being signed off if the situation becomes unmanageable.

OP posts:
Original poster
Loveparis77 · 17/05/2026 10:32

I will definitely investigate parental leave and carers leave - thank you. I don't mind being unpaid because we can manage that. I just need to be at home and not at work right now.

OP posts:
Original poster
Loveparis77 · 17/05/2026 10:34

Just to add to my last message - I don't want to take the Mickey and be signed off just so I can get paid. I just want to leave but I'm not able to so I would be quite happy to take unpaid leave. I'm just not sure how carers and parental leave works and how much I can request.

OP posts:
GivingUpGivingIn · 17/05/2026 10:35

Hi OP
I understand, truly, but you will no doubt find in your contract/job spec the caveat that the head can change job spec/add duties as they see fit.
The role worked for your situation at the time so was deemed a quid pro quo.
I have been part-time myself due to caring responsibilities. I took the pay cut and crap salary for the same reason you did. I was also underpaid but I did manage to advocate for myself to get some backpay (T+L when I was meant to cover only).
I am now used to TA if cover is light and am also used for other things as and when directed - that goes under the caveat in the job spec. All LSAs in all schools are underpaid and many in primary are used to cover, whether HLTA or not. Secondary less so, as cover supervisors used but the latter can be used as LSAs.
I am QTS too so whilst I understand your frustration, I think it comes down to the following:

  1. Is your job offer safe?
  2. How well do the heads know one another?
  3. Will your GP even write you a sick note? (not as easy to be written off for stress now)
  4. How much burden will this place on your peers?
Also, if you are paid pro rata the same as I am, I have to ask (I am on a different notice period to you) but have you given your notice in too early? You will not be paid in August if you have? If you are on UC top ups as part-time, then that might also be affected, not sure, you'd have to declare sick at the least? Finally, what arrangements are you making for September as the main issue of schooling isn't going to go away. If under certain age, there is provision for time off for dependants. If not, I think it is 3 days paid then unpaid leave but you do need a school which has understanding. The quid pro quo for me, was an unwritten but known understanding that if the school did right by me, I'd always do right by them. You need that. 🍀🍀🍀🍀 Wishing you lots of luck. It is a bloody hard situation you are in. Try not to feel too much resentment no matter how it pans out. Easier said than done, I know, but it eats away at you. Do what you feel you need to to get through and survive. The body keeps the score is true. We all end up working in schools with different people 5 years on. I have covered colleagues who have been long term ill, signed off, left early or reneged/left a few weeks early (I have worked in schools 30 years now so seen it all). It does leave a bit of a bad taste but will ultimately be forgotten - all of us are replaceable after all. I like my references intact so not sure I'd ever have the balls but I absolutely know the stress of balancing work and caring, so never say never. Take care x 💐
GenialHarrietGrouty · 17/05/2026 10:35

In your circumstances, being signed off looks pretty justifiable.

GivingUpGivingIn · 17/05/2026 10:40

Just seen your updates/x posts. Ignore the above. Get hold of your union rep and fight it.
Then tell them you are taking unpaid parental leave. 🍀

ColdinHTK · 17/05/2026 10:44

Loveparis77 · 17/05/2026 10:32

I will definitely investigate parental leave and carers leave - thank you. I don't mind being unpaid because we can manage that. I just need to be at home and not at work right now.

I think parental/carers leave is the way to go here.
The duties you’re doing/payment for them is a bit of a red herring really. The bottom line is your DC is now out of school therefore you need to be at home.

I’d contact your employer in the morning and tell them your DC is now home and you need carers leave. You can’t now go into work, regardless of what rate they’re paying you.

I’m a great believer in never burning your bridges, it’s a small world.
Congratulations in securing a new job and best of luck with it

GivingUpGivingIn · 17/05/2026 10:50

So if you have 5 weeks left (does this include Whitsun holidays?) I'd work one more week but let them know I would not be returning after that.
Or I'd work up to and including the end of the holidays then tell them on the last day of the holiday (pending when you get paid) that I was not coming back, stating employee guidance from the link above. Use your school or regional union rep to help you/negotiate this. 💐

Original poster
Loveparis77 · 17/05/2026 10:50

Thank you so much for all the really kind and considered responses , honestly I find them all helpful. At times, I can act impulsively particularly if I feel hard done by so it is really useful for me to have a bit of honesty and think about long term implications!
There is a small connection between my current school and new school, yes, so I do want to consider that but the current school knows that I am changing jobs to make it easier for me to manage my home responsibilities so I have been transparent about that. But like some of you have pointed out, even though I know things will be different in September (and I am being employed as a teacher so I will be paid fairly!), the new employer doesn't necessarily know that my home arrangements will be sorted then so it's worth bearing in mind.
In terms of the teaching I am doing, it won't be hugely difficult for the school to cover because it is not a full timetable and only a few hours a week. I have given the school a lot of extra hours and goodwill over the last year. I put my notice in early knowing I wouldn't get paid over the summer but I am fine with that. I just want to leave earlier - it's not really about the pay although the lack of pay has left a bit of a bad taste for me. Now I just want to be able to be at home, stabilise things with my child and start my new job in September

OP posts:
Original poster
Loveparis77 · 17/05/2026 10:52

ColdinHTK · 17/05/2026 10:44

I think parental/carers leave is the way to go here.
The duties you’re doing/payment for them is a bit of a red herring really. The bottom line is your DC is now out of school therefore you need to be at home.

I’d contact your employer in the morning and tell them your DC is now home and you need carers leave. You can’t now go into work, regardless of what rate they’re paying you.

I’m a great believer in never burning your bridges, it’s a small world.
Congratulations in securing a new job and best of luck with it

Show quote history

Yes you are right. It's not so much about the pay now. It's really just about being at home and being needed by my child. I guess the pay element just goes some way to explaining why I might not feel like going out of my way to make it into work right now

OP posts:
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