Temporary contract and maternity pay

squirrelchops

Hi all, Wondered if you could help. I really struggle to understand some of the Government sites so am hoping someone can 'translate' or in fact just help me with my query please.

I have been offered a temporary contract with the council for 12 months. However, the plan always has been for me to work 12 months then aim to start trying for a family as the 12 month work period would see me through my probationary period.

So my query is this, if I get pregnant say in the 11 month of work, do I then have any rights to maternity benefits should I then finish after 12 months as i will have worked X amount of weeks up or do I have to be still in same job up to 26 weeks pregnant or the like??

Basically, if i left this job after 12 months as they are unable to renew contract but then start another new job would I get maternity leave from new job or from old employers or would I not get any????

Also does anyone know - if you work for council on a temp contract but then get a permanent contract does the length of employment carry on consecutively.

All this matters to me as I may decide that actually i would be better off holding out for a permanent job elsewhere.

Hope I have made sense,

Thanks.