Teaching Assistant pro rata pay when leaving the job

[Deleted User]

I hope I will be able to explain this properly:

So I am a TA and my contracted hours and pay are term time only however it is spread evenly through the year so I get paid during the holidays. 

But - I believe and could be wrong of course -  if I leave the job before the school year is over, provided I gave the required notice, my final salary will be slightely more as I get paid pro-rata basis, meaning my salary is divided by 12 months when I work less than 12 months however I worked enough hours to accrue some money that would be paid to me in the following summer.

Does it make sense?

I am planning to leave and start a new position at some point in May. But if I were to give my notice in a way that my last day at work is the last day of the term in July, I would still get paid for the summer weeks, even though I would not be there for the next school year in September. 

Is that how it works?

Would I be better off leaving at the end of the school year if I can negotiate with my new employer or leaving at any point providing the required 4 weeks notice?

I am confused and we are on Easter break so can’t contact my HR and would like more insight on this before contacting them anyway. 

Ath_Wat

If it's a state run school rather than a private school, then this is something that must happen all the time.  They will  have a clearly defined policy that will be legally correct, so I would just ask them.

[Deleted User]

Will get all info and details from HR as soon as the school is open for business again. 

Jillanddy

If your are planning to start your new job in May,  how can your notice run to July?

[Deleted User]

Jillanddy said:

If your are planning to start your new job in May,  how can your notice run to July?

I know my original post is not clear enough. My question is: Should I go ahead and start a new position in May (at the time I asked I was being interviewed - didn't get the job anyway) or... should I wait until July and the end of the school year to pursue and start a new job? In that case I would have to give notice 4 weeks before the last day of the term (and my guess is I still would get paid throughout the summer). I will ask HR once we are back from Easter.

JGB1955

If I was in your situation, and could negotiate a September start date with your new employer, I would hand in my notice sometime in July but 'with effect from 31 August'.  In that way you would retain your pay throughout the summer holidays.

Jillanddy

JGB1955 said:

If I was in your situation, and could negotiate a September start date with your new employer, I would hand in my notice sometime in July but 'with effect from 31 August'.  In that way you would retain your pay throughout the summer holidays.

If the contract is term time only, then all the OP retains is their salary being paid out over 12 months. They won't get any extra money because the school holidays are effectively unpaid. So the OP gains no financial advantage on the salary - although if they also claim in work benefits there may be an advantage to retaining payment over a longer period. Assuming the employer will do that - they may decide to roll up the outstanding payment in July when the OP effectively ends their employment. Only the employer can say what they would do. 

[Deleted User]

Jillanddy said:

JGB1955 said:

If I was in your situation, and could negotiate a September start date with your new employer, I would hand in my notice sometime in July but 'with effect from 31 August'.  In that way you would retain your pay throughout the summer holidays.

If the contract is term time only, then all the OP retains is their salary being paid out over 12 months. They won't get any extra money because the school holidays are effectively unpaid. So the OP gains no financial advantage on the salary - although if they also claim in work benefits there may be an advantage to retaining payment over a longer period. Assuming the employer will do that - they may decide to roll up the outstanding payment in July when the OP effectively ends their employment. Only the employer can say what they would do. 

They will also have to recruit for my position so I guess is better for them to know I will not be there for September before the summer holidays. 
In fact, now after Easter is the time when the leardership will start to think how to position the staff for the upcoming school year, they always move people around. So I expect that around May, latest June, the new staff planning will be done and we will be told which class / team we will be working in from September. 
Knowing that I will not be there from September makes things easier. 
I will have a chat with HR although is not easy to find a confidential space there, although it does not need confidentiality, it is uncomfortable having this conversation with people around. 

in_my_wellies

Deleted_User said:

They will also have to recruit for my position so I guess is better for them to know I will not be there for September before the summer holidays. 
In fact, now after Easter is the time when the leardership will start to think how to position the staff for the upcoming school year, they always move people around. So I expect that around May, latest June, the new staff planning will be done and we will be told which class / team we will be working in from September. 
Knowing that I will not be there from September makes things easier. 
I will have a chat with HR although is not easy to find a confidential space there, although it does not need confidentiality, it is uncomfortable having this conversation with people around. 

Exactly this. You are only obliged to give 4 weeks notice but most schools would like to know by 31st May if you don't intend to renew in order to appoint and timetable for the following September.

It's a small world out there and SENCOs talk to each other so best not to leave with bad feeling. All the best with your new job. you will be appreciated! 

[Deleted User]

in_my_wellies said:

Deleted_User said:

They will also have to recruit for my position so I guess is better for them to know I will not be there for September before the summer holidays. 
In fact, now after Easter is the time when the leardership will start to think how to position the staff for the upcoming school year, they always move people around. So I expect that around May, latest June, the new staff planning will be done and we will be told which class / team we will be working in from September. 
Knowing that I will not be there from September makes things easier. 
I will have a chat with HR although is not easy to find a confidential space there, although it does not need confidentiality, it is uncomfortable having this conversation with people around. 

Exactly this. You are only obliged to give 4 weeks notice but most schools would like to know by 31st May if you don't intend to renew in order to appoint and timetable for the following September.

It's a small world out there and SENCOs talk to each other so best not to leave with bad feeling. All the best with your new job. you will be appreciated! 

Very helpful  to have a cut off date -31st of May. I never knew, thanks.

Although risky giving notice without having somewhere else to go, I am sure I can find something. I just need a change. And hopefully it will not be in another school or the education sector   -  but never say never of course. It makes me happy to do the right thing anyway.

in_my_wellies

Deleted_User said:

Very helpful  to have a cut off date -31st of May. I never knew, thanks.

Although risky giving notice without having somewhere else to go, I am sure I can find something. I just need a change. And hopefully it will not be in another school or the education sector   -  but never say never of course. It makes me happy to do the right thing anyway.

31st might not be everywhere but in the three counties I was SENCo it was. To match the May teacher resignation date I suppose.