SPL can be really overwhelming to get your head around, especially the paperwork. We offer two ways to help with this:
1) a video tutorial showing how to plan and book your leave, totally free on our website
The 'returning to work for a day/ week/ 2 weeks to be paid for the summer holidays' myth is rearing its head again ๐คฌ This one makes me so cross... by law you have the right to return on a date of your choice and IMMEDIATELY be treated as per your normal conditions
For the school HR leads at the back who still haven't realised this.... YOU CANNOT TELL A TEACHER THEY CANT RETURN FROM MATERNITY DURING A SCHOOL HOLIDAY! an absolute pet hate of mine and still such a commonly touted myth. There are two stipulations in law on the return from
Came across a local authority in the Midlands this week who offer teachers 26 weeks of 100% full pay on maternity leave ... if they can pay this why can't all schools?! Some London LAs pay the same. Certainly a reason not to feel guilty claiming a few extra weeks pay via SPL!
As a company we have worked with over 1500 families in the last 18 months, earning them ยฃ5,000,000 in extra pay during maternity leave ๐ฅณ great to share about this with delegates at
#themotherofallpaygaps
conference today
#womened
Thought I'd say hi as the main face behind the account and Director of Teacher's SPL. I'm Kinza, an Assistant Headteacher and maths teacher (0.8) I have a background in law - a UCL graduate and qualified barrister. I've been advising teachers on how to benefit from SPL ever since
This year to date we've helped over 500 families benefit from SPL from all across the UK. That's just over 4% of the 11,500 approx teachers on mat leave each year in the UK. Help us keep spreading the word!
Teacher's SPL became a business back in Feb 2021, after a couple of years of informally advising people over twitter. We began with a handful of clients each month... 18 months later we've helped 521 teachers through our support packages, hundreds more via the free guidance
It's always satisfying when an employer who has been refusing to pay SPL properly finally pays up ๐ช it's rare, but we've come close to formal grievances/ tribunals with a few recently - thankfully our record of 100% paid without having to go that far remains intact ๐
August due date teachers... did you know that you can choose to work until the birth? This is a legal option, meaning you stay on full pay if baby is late ๐ mat leave would start automatically the day after the birth (particularly useful if you're due in the summer!)
A record breaking 300 families supported with SPL applications in October... sorry we are quiet on here, we are definitely still open and still helping with all things SPL!
The myth persists... teachers, you do NOT, have to go back to work a day/ a week before the school holidays to be paid for them. Provided you've given 8 weeks notice your employer must pay you as normal immediately on your return - WHENEVER THAT IS. (And school leaders it is not
If you're on maternity leave and will still be in January, October 24th is the deadline to get your SPL paperwork in and be paid 2 weeks annual leave at Christmas. Don't miss out! If you're not sure if you can benefit drop us a msg. Loads of info and help on our website ๐
In a nutshell, SPL allows you to break your year of maternity into 4 sections per parent. Fit these around the holidays and you get the benefits of paid holidays, stretching the 39 weeks of paid leave over a longer period, and the option to still take a year off, whilst
Sorry if we've been quiet... January was insane - over 500 of you used our SPL support packages... we must have read and sent over 5000 emails too ๐คช๐ด
Teachers in Camden, at regular local authority schools, get paid 28 weeks full pay on maternity/ adoption leave, on the same budget, it's just given a high priority... as it should be! So if you're feeling bad about costing your school money... try not to and go for it!!
As we sign off for Christmas, reflecting on a brilliant first year for Teacher's SPL. Our support packages have helped 132 families spend extra time with their babies, and collectively receive over half a million pounds in extra pay! Not to mention the hundreds more whoused
We don't doubt they mean well, but please never discount SPL because HR tell you it won't work in your setting, the head has to agree it, your partner has to take leave, you'll have to work in the holidays.... these are all untrue!! We come across so many families who have been
If you were a teacher on M5, going on maternity leave from Monday, taking Shared Parental Leave would:
- Earn you ยฃ5574 of additional income
- Mean that if you took the whole year off only 4 weeks would be completely unpaid (not the usual 13!)
- create 9 weeks that your partner
Mat leave; 1) it's before 52 weeks of leave are used/ baby turns 1 if taking SPL. 2) you give 8 weeks notice.
Schools can't add extra T&C's. Just like they can't say you can't return from sick leave in the holidays. It's discriminatory, there's no legal grounding for it ๐คฏ๐ก๐คฌ
149 families successfully helped secure paid holidays on mat leave this year (through our packages, many more through the website!) Will you be our 150th?! The average family we work with gains over ยฃ3000 as a result of taking SPL ๐
Today is technically my last proper day of maternity leave, but thankfully due to SPL itโs not really my last day! Back for the summer, and then back on split leave from September. Thankful to
@TeachersSPL
โค๏ธ
Don't stand for it! They'd never demand it of someone signed off for health reasons, or returning from bereavement leave. Mothers just get a bad deal far too often. Always happy to help fight this one ๐ช
A lot of mentions recently about having to go back a day/ week before the holidays to be paid for them... this is not legal, they must pay you immediately and you can return when YOU want to!! See our article in TES on this very point:
Having a baby in the next few months? If you can get your head around SPL (or let us do that bit for you) and apply by the end of May - you can get your summer holidays paid in full (and still be off work after). It sounds too good to be true...but so far in 2022 we've helped 150
If you're heading off on maternity leave this academic year, now is a great time to get your Shared Parental Leave planned. Over the summer holidays we've worked with 20+ parents to do just this earning them in average 5 weeks extra fully paid leave (ยฃ2000+!)
One of the biggest misconceptions people have about SPL is that it wouldn't be worth it if their partner is the higher earner. This isn't true. SPL can be taken in a way that only impacts the mother, gaining her paid holiday, partners salary 100% unaffected ๐
After a busy week lots of teacher parents on mat leave have secured their full pay for the Christmas holidays ๐ฅณ the deadline has now passed but we are already helping people get paid for Feb, Easter and Summer Holidays 2022 ๐ check out our website or DM for more info
Majority of schools maternity policies I've seen (and that's 100s) pay teachers 100% for the 1st 4 weeks, then 2 weeks at 90%. Support staff though, who are already underpaid, get 6 weeks at 90% instead. Why treat them differently?! If you're a head please consider changing this!
You asked...so we have provided! Excited to launch out first Employer Training session - open to anyone working in school HR that would like to better understand the laws on SPL and what they mean for staff in your schools. 10 places available, email or DM for more info!
You can benefit from SPL even if:
- your partner's a teacher
- your partner's self employed
- you're already on mat leave
- you work in a private school
- your partner has changed job recently
Most people that message us thinking they can't benefit actually can ๐
Summer holiday season is upon us... if you know a teacher who is on/ or about to start mateenity or adoption leave, and still will be off in September - tell them about SPL now... apply in the next month or so and gain 6 weeks of full pay ๐ฅณ๐ฅณ๐ฅณ
Not sure if you'll return to work, want to consider a few options? The
@TeachersSPL
team are experts in making the most of your maternity/ shared parental leave ๐
#weloveagoodspreadsheet
The only requirement in law is that you give 8 weeks notice (or less if your employer allows). You do not have to go into work for a day before day 1 of the summer hols to get paid.
Last week we helped 30 families plan and apply for Shared Parental Leave - gaining them paid school holidays
You could be next, get in touch via our website ๐
Welcome to our official Twitter account - website is now live! Have a look at to find out more about how teachers can get paid holiday whilst on mat leave! Follow here for updates, FAQs etc!
This summer we helped hundreds of teachers secure full pay for the holidays. This works for the vast majority of teachers (its not achool dependent, it's a starutory entitlement), don't delay looking into it if you're pregnant/ on mat/adoption leave!
My payslip today shows one months full pay | This allows me to stay on maternity leave until half term | An extra two months with my son thanks to
@TeachersSPL
#SharedParentalLeave
๐คฑ๐ป๐ถ๐ฝ
Given bad advice, and are able to get it sorted. What we advocate for is a right for all in the UK, it's not school specific, they can't remove your rights in their own policy etc. You're entitled to it, so let us help you - we always get HR onboard in the end ๐คฃ
After a lovely Christmas and New years we will be fully open again from tomorrow. 2023 saw us help over 2700 families secure better pay during their maternity leave... 21 hours into 2024 and 13 more have already signed up!! ๐ฅฐ
Such a lovely message from someone working in HR in school, wanting help to make sure her colleagues get the most from SPL. So refreshing to hear ๐ Leaders that champion women on maternity make a huge difference ๐
Next week is the deadline for booking SPL to benefit from the Easter holidays. January has been our busiest month ever - with over 150 teachers set up with SPL plans and forms! We'll only be able to guarantee turnaround to meet the deadline to those signed up by Sunday
After our busiest month ever, and literally hundreds of you helped with your SPL applications, the out of office is on for half term. The team will still process new applications, but most emails won't be responded to until after half term ๐ฌ๐ท
It's summer holiday pay deadline day...(to get it all paid, if you apply late it'll just decrease by a week each week!) All our summer holiday plans and forms have been processed. If you've only just found out about us we could squeeze you in today, order by 6pm!
The summer holidays is a great time to find out more about/ plan/ get paperwork sorted for SPL . If you're a pregnant teacher, or are on maternity leave and will stay off until at least Christmas SPL can earn you paid holidays. We are open until mid August ๐
Lovely to hear from a Mum to be who has used the information on our website to take SPL and get an extra 8 weeks paid maternity leave, meaning she can stay off work for longer with baby ๐ No problem at all with employers either. Keep spreading the word!
Final stats for the day... 72% on the norm burgundy book mat pay, 8.5% on statutory only (usually private schools, these families benefit hugely from SPL) , but note that purple slither... normal comprehensive schools paying 16 weeks full pay... it's not impossible!
@maternityCPD
In June we helped 234 families get extra pay during maternity leave through our support packages. We also answered hundreds of questions via our website (which has over 10,000 views last month!) Don't miss out if you're on mat leavve now or will be soon!
It's always great to hear from people whose headteachers have been really supportive of their Shared Parental Leave applications ๐ More and more teachers are taking SPL so the process will keep getting easier!
SPL can be planned at any point once you've an idea of a start date for maternity leave, though I'd recommend that an ideal time (if you want to use our support package) is once you've had your matb1 forms. If you're on mat leave it isn't too late - as long as there are 8 weeks
We come across so many private schools that only offer the statutory minimum maternity pay (6 weeks 90% then the basic rate) ๐ but it does make it all the more satisfying to help them get paid for the school holidays! ๐ฅณ
#parentsdeservebetterthan151aweek
@WhistleblowingT
It's a myth that never wants to go away in education that you have to go back. Return isn't something your employer has a say in. Provided you give 8 weeks notice (unless they allow less) you can go back any day, term time or not, and must immediately be back on full pay.
January is shaping up to be our busiest month yet! Remember, if you're on maternity leave now and you'd like to be paid for Easter you need paperwork in by end of Jan. If you're due in spring now is the perfect time to plan how to be paid for the summer holidays ๐ฅณ๐
It's too late for paid Easters now... but that means we're heading into summer holiday season! If you're on/ going on maternity leave before the summer check out our website to see how you can be paid for the summer holidays in full and still be on leave in Sept ๐ฅณ๐
After a lovely relaxing Christmas break we are now back open! If you want to benefit from paid holidays during your maternity leave check out our site today! we gave slightly less capacity in Jan and Feb, so if your leave starts soon, don't delay booking
If what your LA / HR/ Headteacher tells you about SPL doesn't match up with what we say it does on our website... talk to us. Don't miss out because they have misconceptions. So many schools don't get it, we do, and we always get the result. SPL is a statutory entitlement
The deadline to use SPL to be paid for Christmas is only a month away. If you're on mat leave now and will still be in Jan then this is v likely to benefit you. We will be on annual leave from 19/10 until after the deadline...so don't delay if you want to use our help ๐
Such a busy first week back in the office! As always, a pleasure to be helping so many of you get better pay during maternity leave and we hope many of you enjoyed your fully paid Christmas and NY ๐ฅฐ
Teacher's SPL is now a team of 3, towards the end of last year Leidy left us
UK plan and take SPL, allowing them to take longer, stay financially healthy, & in many cases creating time for partners to take more leave - with both births and adoptions.
As a company we grew 500% last year ๐คช๐๐ฅฐ and we are excited for what 2023 holds!
#keepspreadingtheword
๐ I'm sure this will impact many teachers this winter. SPL can help with paid holidays so do take the time to read up on it (check out our website in bio for teacher specific info)
Thread: Yesterday, we did a poll with 4,000 women who are more than 20 weeks pregnant, or have given birth in the last 3 months.
Two-thirds said they will be forced to return to work from maternity leave earlier than they wanted because of the cost of living crisis.
Taking SPL or thinking of it? Remember not to spread out your enhanced pay - thus doesn't work well with SPL as 95% of schools pay SPL at the basic statutory rate only. Get those 18 weeks of occupational pay and then switch to SPL for paid periods over the holidays ๐
This Christmas
@TeachersSPL
were pleased to be able to donate money to fund 1 of 3 Christmas parties put on by
@RaisingHopeFdn
with our local partners in Ghana. Jollof rice and chicken for everyone, ice creams and some school supplies to take away.
Did you know we offer a 2 hour employer training workshop? We'll take you through all you need to know about Shared Parental Leave and how it works within education and provide follow up support for future SPL applications. With more and more teachers taking it, it's important
First reminder of the summer holidays deadline - to be paid for summer (which is only beneficial if you will start mat leave before mid May) you need to apply by 26th May. 2 weeks earlier if you work in a private school. I will be arriving here on 26th May so please don't
So many teacher mums to be worry about claiming pay that legally is there's to take. This is why you shouldn't... time off when they're little is precious and can never be reclaimed... take some paid holiday like all other professions get anyway!
Half termโs over itโs now my final 6 weeks of mat leave which will be punctuated by nursery transitions&KIT days,forever grateful for
@TeachersSPL
sharing the knowledge to get me a year off paid. My experience this mat leave has been infinitely different without the money worries
@RachPteacher
@maternityCPD
When insets have occurred on my day off there has been zero suggestion I should do them or catch up on the work done on them in my own time. If you have CPD to complete I'd approach LM and have a conversation about when in your working days time can be found to do it
OK to try and pressure women into coming in by saying it's long standing practice... it's not a term that you can impose in their contract or their policy) .
#rantover
Taking SPL does not impact on your partners salary,unless they want to take leave too. The mother can take all the SPL, benefiting from paid holidays, whilst their partner remains on 100% pay throughout ๐ (they have to share responsibility for the child,but not the actual leave)
Just 5 wks to go to get your forma in for summer holiday pay! If you're on mat leave and want to still be on it in Sept, or will be starting it imminently,now is the time to get in touch! We are filling up fast with orders...this is the big one - 6 extra weeks full pay at stake!
I had my eldest daughter 5 years ago, officially registering a company and doing things more formally since Feb 2021. We've recently expanded and trained a new member staff in all things SPL ๐ช We are passionate about teachers having the maternity leave they want ๐
We are back! After the most incredible week in Ghana visiting scholarship students, developing our projects with social welfare officers, and enjoying the food, heat and vibrancy of the country ๐ฌ๐ญ๐ฅฐ We have a full inbox though so do bear with us as we catch up this week ๐
A lovely review left today ๐ฅฐ SPL forms need to be in asap (3 to 5 weeks from now depending on your term dates) so if you would like our help please book ASAP... we are the busiest we've ever been!
Our Support packages include as standard:
- Reading your schools specific SPL policy
- drawing up a spreadsheet showing week by week what type of leave /pay you'll be on, with paid annual leave planned for maximum benefit.
- drafting your SPL paperwork
- Aftercare, we help
Lots of parents getting their SPL booked and confirmed with school this week ๐ Here are some of our FAQ's :
- If just the mum takes leave, will the partners pay be affected? Not at all, one parent can take SPL with no impact at all on the others job/pay.
We've been working with lots of parents expecting in 2022 this month, planning how they can best use Shared Parental Leave, as well as some who are already on maternity leave. It's not too late to be paid for Christmas if you're on leave already and not going back in January!
The deadline is fast approaching for anyone looking to claim full pay for the October HT holiday.We will be closed over the deadline, so if you are planning to use one of our support packages for Oct please order this week so we can turn it around before going on holiday on 18/08
Many people use the freely available info on the website to help plan SPL. To pay it forward we raise money for The Raising Hope Foundation - a UK reg charity chaired by Kinza that works alongside a wondeful local NGO in rural Ghana. This Christmas we sent parcels to 208 children
If you've been thinking about whether using SPL could benefit your family whilst on maternity leave come along to our session at this :) we'll be explaining how it all works - this is a free event ๐
If you're on mat leave currently and would like to be paid for May HT, the deadline for paperwork is 3rd April.
The deadline for summer hols (standard 22nd July finish) is 29th May.
Now is the right time to start planning for these ๐
We come across a lot of families who think SPL won't work for them, usually this is a misconception. SPL will benefit you financially even if:
- you're already on MAT leave
- your partner earns more
- you're both teachers/ work in same school
Our website and information is being access by thousands of teachers each month - and from all across the UK ๐ thinking of applying for SPL? You won't be alone!
We've noticed an increase in teachers opting to work right up to the due date since the cost of living crisis began. SPL is a great way to earn some extra money whilst on leave - if you haven't already, check out our website!
We now offer an additional service beyond our two popular support packages. Package C is for people who have made their own applications, but are having difficulties with school getting it signed off - we have a lot of experience with this and can come alongside you and help
Lots of new followers today! Here are some of the key points:
- to qualify you must have a partner/ father who is sharing care
- they can be employed or self employed as long as they've earned a v low threshold amount (ยฃ390 in total in last 13 weeks)
Great to see that word about SPL is spreading far and wide ๐ We've worked with families in Scotland, Northern Ireland, Wales and England. Don't think we've had any of the islands yet though!
Two weeks to get paperwork in for that all important summer holiday pay! If you're on leave now, and intend to be still in September you need to look into SPL ASAP. We have spaces available for those that would like help planning and applying
Drafting some SPL plans this evening which go into 2023! Time is flying! It's never too early to plan how you can use SPL to get paid for the school holidays whilst on maternity leave ๐
So we have a fb page, but I never find the time to use it to share the word about SPL... but it seems we are a hot topic in some teacher Facebook groups ๐คฃ๐ 494% growth in clicks through to our website ๐ฎ