Any primary teachers to help with maternity leave question?

rover25

Hi, I am a primary school teacher in NI and I have just found out that I am pregnant :)and am due around 11th November. I know I am entitled to 9 months maternity leave pay (made up of different amounts of pay following the 1st 4 weeks).
My question is if I go off on the mid of october, my 9 mths will take me through to mid July. As mid July will be the end of maternity leave I will be on SMP ( even though I'd be off anyway with full pay)
What I was thinking was, that I would go off earlier maybe mid September and then be due back mid June before the summer holidays begin. This would mean I would be back to my ordinary full pay over the summer months (wouldn't it? - need to confrim this) I know that I can start my maternity leave up to 11 weeks before due date. Does anyone forsee any problems with this?
Thanks in advance

Dorastar

You can technically sign back for work on the first Sunday of the school holidays and then get paid all summer ie if school break sup on the Friday 23rd June, then you can technically state your return as Sunday the 25th - I know cos I did this. It is a bit mean on whoever is covering the maternity leave cos they then don't get paid for the summer but they have taken on the contract knowing it can be shortened if the person on maternity wants to return. Personally if I was well and happy then I would stay in school till I was happy to go rather than start maternity leave early - the last few weeks really drag when you're as big as a whale

Some people lke to return a few days or a week at the end of term just to see which class they're going to get, sort out stuff etc but there is nothing which says you have to. These are the rules in England anyway , not sure if they are the same in NI. Union websites are ususally a good source of info.

My headteacher was completely unaware of this btw, so make sure if it does apply to you that you fight your corner if that's what you want to do - it is a fairly new ruling and was something to do with someone taking their LA to court and the court ruling that teachers on maternity should not lose out just cos of when their summer holidays are.

Or you could just sign back for the Sunday before your £ is officially due to end iyswim then you will be back on full pay immediately.

36square

What you're really saying is: "How can I maximise the amount of taxpayers' money I get while not actually working."

Do all teachers have this attitude?

absoluteutopia

36square wrote: »

What you're really saying is: "How can I maximise the amount of taxpayers' money I get while not actually working."

Do all teachers have this attitude?

95% of the ones ive worked with yes. You see them all back in the last week in June

rover25

I guessed I would get responses like this but having covered many maternity leaves in supply when I was just starting out I was very glad of maternity leaves that started in the 1st term and lasted until near June. I feel that I probably will need the 6 weeks+ off before my due date anyway. I have a very busy class of 28 6 and 7 year olds. Fine if you are sitting at a desk or are able to take frequent breaks but bending up and down and moving about a room constantly, I just don't know. It's not as if I can sit at my desk and say here's a book, go and sit down and get on with it. Anyone who knows 6 and 7 yr olds will know that will not happen! If I decide to go off 6 weeks before, I will inevitably end up coming back in mid of June. Should I feel guilty about that?

mypie

36square wrote: »

What you're really saying is: "How can I maximise the amount of taxpayers' money I get while not actually working."

Do all teachers have this attitude?

As a tax payer herself I am feel she is well entitled to get this.

To OP.

I am pregnant atm and the further I get on in my pregnancy the harder I am finding it to sleep, move about and generally just get on with everyday life. Everyone tells you to work up to the birth as long as possible but do what feels right for you.

bylromarha

I did Reception when 38 weeks pregnant. It was worth it to get to the summer hols on full pay and maternity pay starting when baby was actually born.

I'd advise to keep going as long as you can in the classroom pre baby and restart on wages mid summer holidays. Don't feel guilty about whatever choice you make!

PS: Teachers work pretty hard over the summer holidays too...do you think those classrooms look amazing all by themselves on 1st September, or that the books, coat pegs, drawers etc all magically name themselves...I used to have 2 weeks actual holiday during the 6 week break. Rest of the time was all prep for the coming year.

shell820810

rover25 wrote: »

Hi, I am a primary school teacher in NI and I have just found out that I am pregnant :)and am due around 11th November. I know I am entitled to 9 months maternity leave pay (made up of different amounts of pay following the 1st 4 weeks).
My question is if I go off on the mid of october, my 9 mths will take me through to mid July. As mid July will be the end of maternity leave I will be on SMP ( even though I'd be off anyway with full pay)
What I was thinking was, that I would go off earlier maybe mid September and then be due back mid June before the summer holidays begin. This would mean I would be back to my ordinary full pay over the summer months (wouldn't it? - need to confrim this) I know that I can start my maternity leave up to 11 weeks before due date. Does anyone forsee any problems with this?
Thanks in advance

Surely only the first 9 months is paid regardless of where it is statutory or company paid? You can take off up to a year, but the last 3 months are alway unpaid? so you wouldnt be getting statutory from mid July anyway?

jjd

I don't really understand the exact question either. You can take the full 52 weeks if you wish but after week 39 you will not receive any money as SMP does not continue after this point.
When you leave you will get 4 weeks full pay, 2 weeks at 90% pay (offset against smp), 12 weeks half pay in addition to SMP, then 21 weeks SMP only. No pay for the remaining amount of additional maternity leave. You are entitled to take the full 52 weeks but no pay for last 12 weeks in any public sector jobs.
I would think however you would have to return to work in order to go back onto full pay prior to the summer holidays. If you return to work for less than 13 weeks and then leave you will have to repay all your pay!
I would advise you to contact your union and ask their advice or print off the maternity policy as i'm sure you are not the first in this position.

rover25

"If you return to work for less than 13 weeks and then leave you will have to repay all your pay!"
Does this means leave your job altogether? What if you want to go back 3 days per week job share?

To previous posters: I would only be able to take the 39 weeks (9mths) maternity leave as couldn't afford to keep going without any pay after the 39 weeks!
What I was saying is that I would be able to get 2 extra months at home with baby on full pay (July and August) if I go back mid June. Mid June is 9 months on from Mid September (approx 6 weeks before my due date). It would mean I would be off 11 mths (obviously with a week or so back in school from mid June - end of June.
What I find strange is even though I would be off anyway July/Aug -if my maternity leave in on those month , I would only get smp, not my full pay.

rover25

bylromarha wrote: »

I did Reception when 38 weeks pregnant. It was worth it to get to the summer hols on full pay and maternity pay starting when baby was actually born.

I'd advise to keep going as long as you can in the classroom pre baby and restart on wages mid summer holidays. Don't feel guilty about whatever choice you make!

PS: Teachers work pretty hard over the summer holidays too...do you think those classrooms look amazing all by themselves on 1st September, or that the books, coat pegs, drawers etc all magically name themselves...I used to have 2 weeks actual holiday during the 6 week break. Rest of the time was all prep for the coming year.

I just figuered going back for a week or so in June would be worth it to get my full pay over the summer months especially when I'd be off for the next 2 months anyway. Maybe I'm thinking about this all wrong. Head's a bit all over the place!