Teachers - got a pay cut and head is getting stuffy about when I can go back after mat leave

[fisil]

I went into work today. I've been signed off sick for the past 10 weeks with depression. Ante Natal Depression does not officially exist, so it is called depression and treated as non-maternity related. On Sunday my sick leave turns into maternity leave.

I found two documents in my pigeon hole. A memo dated 18th Jan (I started sick leave on 17th) stating that maternity laws have changed and that I can't return to work before 15 weeks and will therefore have to return in September rather than July when I want to.

The second was my annual pay statement. When I was given an R&R point 3 years ago I was told it was permanent. It now says that it will expire on 31st March. I know there have been national changes in pay and conditions, so has everyone lost this money? This effectively means a pay cut of £1000 p.a.

The final thing that bugs me is that half an hour later I discovered that legally I should not have been on school premises because I've been signed off sick. If I had known this 1/2 hour earlier I would never have received these documents until I returned to work in July (or September if the head gets her way).

So my questions: I can return to work anytime after the baby is 2 weeks old, can't I? And has everyone lost the R&R points, or is there something going on here?

[mummytosteven]

agree with Mud - if that's when you intend to go back, then that's when you intend to go back. Without AND many mums I am sure have slightly delayed their return to work for whatever reasons. Don't feel guilty because it is a mental health issue - if it was a broken leg I bet you wouldn't be asking yourself this.

In terms of feeling worse after the birth - as I understand it, the risk of AND turning into PND is more if the AND goes untreated, whereas yours is being treated (and sounds like the treatments working given you feel a lot better atm). IIRC you are on meds/had counselling - and presumably will continue on ADs after the birth, so I wouldn't have thought you were likely to relapse.

If anything the birth and having DS to look after helped, rather than hindered my recovery from OCD/Depression - I would say I wsa 50% recovered by the time of the birth, mostly recovered with 4 months of the birth.

[alux]

I agree with what others say about returning to work. The NASUWT puts out a very good booklet about your maternity rights. Get a copy. It will be helpful to refer back to it over the coming few weeks.

[happymerryberries]

Fisil, just read this. Agree with everyone else see your Union rep pronto.

And don't be guilted back into work too soon, just because you feel better for the moment. If you go back too soon you could make your recovery longer and no-one will thank you for flogging yourself to a stand still. You owe it to yourself and the babe

[Rowlers]

Fisil, if it's any help, when I returned to work after maternity leave (I'm Head of MFL), I went back full time, because that is what I had said I would do and I didn't want to let the school down by changing my mind at the last minute. I did everything by the book and was true to my word so as to minimise problems for the school.
In the last few weeks before returning to work, I had major doubts and got very anxious about going back full time. Byt I did nothing and am now, 7 weeks after returning to the post wondering why I didn't just do what was right for me.
The head has spoken to me maybe twice, the first time all she said was "hello". No welcome back, no how can we help you out, nothing, nada. The deputy was the same. At a managers' meeting, I thought someone may say something. Again, nothing at all. Now either I am absolutely crap at my job (which I have to admit all that did make me wonder - it's amazing how other people can really knock your confidence) or they are all a bunch of self-obsessed turds.
The reality is, it's a job, it's not what you get up in the morning for.
You are only here once, do what makes you happy and what is right for you. Stuff the head, she'd be ruthless - that's probably why she's got her job.
Just to clarify, my earlier comment re: it being a bit cheeky was not my personal belief, rather from experience that of others I have worked with. The point I was trying to make and probably didn't make itr clearly enough was that yes, some may think like that but that's irrelevant in the grand sheme of things.
Sorry - I've written loads - was probably using it as a bit of a cathartic exercise!! I think I may also have strayed from the point a little!

[fisil]

Thanks Rowlers & HMB. With ds I fell pg just after Ofsted, and so planned not to go back til he was 8 months. By 3 months I was begging nursery to take him early, but was stuck at home miserable (and with counselling) until he was 8 months. I do love my job, and I am desperate to go back.So in fact it is the opposite - the head is pushing me to start back later, while I want to go back sooner.

I took advice from my excellent friend - my former teacher - and he finished his advise with "leave"!