Any primary teachers to help with maternity leave question?

jjd

As far as i'm aware you would have to have agreement of part time or job share prior to returning to work. The 13 weeks relates to your normal duties, so if you normally work full time say for instance 5 days and return on a job share of 2.5 days you would have to work for 26 weeks before you could leave the job without financial penalty. I don't think there is any penalty or anything to prevent you returning to work on lower hours. I would suggest you look and see if your employer has a flexible working policy and complete all the relevant forms. I know people who have been told they can have flexible working informally and the employer has changed their mind. Make sure you apply in writing and get it in writing back from them.
You are under no obligation to tell them of your intention to jobshare or change your hours prior to going on maternity leave. And remember the employer is under no obligation to give you jobshare or lower hours. Most public sector policies state that they must offer flexible working where practical and possible, thus if they believe it would be detrimental to the way the school works or if they don't have the budget to employ another staff member they may within their rights to refuse. Look at the deni website, i'm sure they have some info.

36square

mypie wrote: »

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

No she isn't, not unless she is in the very unique position of paying tax at more than 100%, in which case I'd be surprised if she bothered working at all.

Bennifred

This does seem to be very common practice in schools - some of our teachers appear in school for as little as one day immediately before the summer break:mad:

thetope

Just remember, although you are entitled to take 9 months off with varying amounts of pay, you don't actually *have* to! I am pregnant also (due in september) but I'm not a teacher (though both my parents were!).

In your position I would probably work for as long as I felt comfortable to before the birth - perhaps up to a month before hand (personally i hope to work right up to a fortnight before due date as I simply can't afford to go off full pay before baby is born for any more than i have to - i only get 6 weeks on full pay in maternity, then another 20 weeks on 50% pay). you can then arrange to come back for a week or two at the end of june, even if that is less than 9 months to get back on to full pay, then you have the extra two months on full pay as well. but that's just my tuppence worth.

Yes it's playing the system to your advantage but it's perfectly legal and to be honest there aren't many pregnant/expecting teachers who wouldn't take advantage of that benefit (in fact I know of many who plan their pregnancies for around september/october specifically to take advantage of the opportunity to take almost a whole year off for the sake of coming in for a couple of weeks). but anyway, good luck for the pregnancy and as you say, you will be giving someone else without a job an opportunity to get more experience and a foot in the door so don't listen to the anti-teachers! i KNOW it's a tough job

wifeforlife

Your doing nothing wrong and if I was a teacher I would utilise the school holidays to suit my family needs. I would try to work up as much as possible and remain on your full pay for longer, just agree to go back early in June it will mean less time on a reduced income.

Your bills will increase being at home too, as i learnt last year, I went back to work after 6 months as it was cheaper!

Dorastar

Still would do what you want and yes use the system to your advantage - it only changed because someone took it to court as teachers can't fix their holidays so in essence lose their holidays if they are pregnant whereas most other jobs can save up their hols to make their maternity start earlier or finish later. Ignore the grumps on here.