The Trust recognises the importance of providing time off for new parents to spend time with each other and their new arrival. The Academy provides paternity (non-pregnant parent) leave depending on length of service, to help care for the baby and support the birth parent at the time of birth or placement.
The policy below covers all employees within the Trust.
This policy will apply to you if you:
- Have worked for the Academy or a recognised employer for at least 26 weeks by the end of the 15th week before your baby is due to be born, and
- Are either the biological father of the child or partner of the pregnant parent;
- Are the baby’s biological father or the birth parent’s husband /wife or partner. A partner refers to someone who lives with the birth parent in an enduring family relationship, but who is not a blood relation;
- Are married to the person adopting the child or be the partner of that person. A partner refers to someone who lives with the person adopting the child, either male or female, in an enduring family relationship, but who is not a blood relative;
- Have or expect to have, responsibility for the child’s upbringing;
- Take time off work to support the birth parent or the person adopting the child or care for the child;
- Provide a copy of the birth parent’s form MAT B1 or relevant documentation to confirm the adoption.
Requests for paternity (non-pregnant parent) leave must be discussed with the Headteacher or Line Manager on or before the end of the 15th week before baby is due. If you are eligible, you will receive the first week at the full rate of pay (as for maternity support leave) the second week at the standard rate set by Central Government. Please note you cannot request both maternity support and paternity (non-pregnant parent) leave.
Time Off for Antenatal Care
The Trust understands the importance for you to attend antenatal or pre-adoption appointments with your partner.
You can take time off work to go to two antenatal appointments if:
Qualifying relationship:
- if you have a qualifying relationship with a pregnant woman or the expected child if you are:
- The husband/wife or civil partner, same sex partner of the pregnant woman;
- Live with the pregnant woman in an enduring family relationship;
- You are the father of the expected child;
- An intended parent in a surrogacy situation who meets certain conditions (for example, is a potential applicant for a parental order in respect of the expected child).In surrogacy arrangements both intended parents are entitled to attend up to two paid ante-natal appointments with the birth parent.
You are not entitled if you are:
- The pregnant woman’s parent, grandparent, sister, brother, aunt or uncle.
You are asked to give your manager as much notice of your appointments as you can. You can take up to 6.5 hours’ leave for each appointment, including travelling, waiting and attendance time, but we expectthat most appointments will not last more than half a day. You are entitled to attend up to two paid ante-natal appointments with the birth parent.
To apply for paternity leave, please complete the application form PATF01 below.