Family leave
Becoming a parent is a very special time in someone's life and we believe that all parents should have the opportunity to spend time with their new child.
Our family leave policy goes beyond our minimum legal obligations to support you at this very important time of your life. This policy demonstrates our commitment to being a family friendly employer by providing enhanced leave and pay provisions and supporting new parents in choosing the pattern of leave that best suits them and their individual circumstances.
Summary of some of the key points from the policy are listed below, however, more eligibility guidance and further support is available on our intranet, the Orb, when you join us.
What we offer
- Maternity leave: We offer an enhancement of up to 63 weeks off which can start 11 weeks before the expected week of childbirth.
- Maternity, and adoption pay: We offer up to 39 weeks' pay (up to 14 weeks at normal pay, plus up to 25 weeks at Statutory Maternity Pay rate or 90% of normal salary, whichever is lowest, where eligible).
- Partner support leave and pay: If your partner's going to have a baby or is going to be the main adopter of a child, you can be eligible for up to one week at normal pay plus one week at statutory paternity pay rate.
- Shared parental leave and pay: If you or your partner have a baby, or you adopt a child, you may be eligible to share up to 50 weeks' enhanced shared parental leave and 37 weeks’ pay (up to 14 weeks’ full pay, followed by 23 weeks at the statutory rate).
- Neonatal care leave: If your baby requires care in a neonatal unit following birth, then you may be entitled to up to 12 weeks' neonatal care leave and pay.
- Pregnant colleagues: Get reasonable paid time off to attend antenatal care appointments made on the advice of a registered medical practitioner, midwife or health visitor.
- Primary adopters: We appreciate that the selection process for becoming adoptive parents involves a number of assessment visits at home and appointments that you’ll need to attend. If you are the primary adopter, we’ll give you reasonable paid leave to attend these meetings.
- Fertility treatment: Requests for time off for fertility treatment, or for any other form of treatment for or investigation into infertility, are covered by our special leave policy as we support colleagues in this journey.
Plus we also offer other arrangements for fostering and kinship carers, flexible working, leave for caring responsibilities and keeping in touch days.
Teaching colleagues
Entitlements are outlined in the SNCT Handbook, section 7 - Family leave.