Teachers, when are you starting maternity leave?
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I’m going to try to get to 38 weeks but not 100% sure yet
I’m a December 2023 mum and a teacher. I had a c section at 38 weeks and started maternity leave at 37 weeks. Look at teacher shared parental leave. You are entitled to it if your partner qualifies under some minimal requirements and you ‘go back to work’ in three blocks. So I was fully paid for May half term, 6 weeks holiday and will have October half term full pay, too. I’m going back to work the first week of December after taking a full year
I am a January 2024 mum and I stopped at the Christmas holidays so I technically started at 37 weeks in January but really went at 34 weeks. I was glad I did as it was so full on up till then and I had such a long period of time to sort things and relax. I went into labour at 38+6 and baby arrived at 39 weeks so I am pleased I had lots of time to myself. I knew I was going back in July too so wanted to get as much as I could
@Emily thank you, I'm planning to do exactly the same. Thankfully, I found out about teacher SPL on peanut, but we need to keep sharing to teachers as so many do not know about it.
@Sarah I’ve also used SPL. Not many people know about it though! My school didn’t even have policies in place until I asked.
37 weeks xx
I am going to be leaving at 37 weeks. I will be taking SPL to help with the pay! My school didn’t know anything about it either 🤦🏻♀️ x
Those of you that have already completed your SPL forms, is there any way you message me them to look at! I can’t get my head around how to make them work the gov website keeps telling me it’s wrong x
@Jessica I used a company to help me and they done it all for me 😬. It’s called Teachers SPL! Xx
@Katie oh I’ve seen this I didn’t know if it was worth it! Il have a look into that thanks so much xx
@Jessica it’s brilliant. I literally sent them policies, term dates and my Mat leave dates and they do the rest x
@Katie I was going to use them too, as I anticipated my school not being great about it, but my first meeting with HR they were forthcoming and did all the forms. But it would have been well worth it to have them sort it for me otherwise!
@Katie How much did it cost you?
I’m leaving at just over 36 weeks because I don’t know when baby will come (currently under growth scans) and I’m also on my own without a TA full time which is getting harder everyday x