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Hi,
I hope you don't mind me popping onto your board, I was just wondering how you manage staff returning to work from maternity leave. I am currently a hod and due to return soon from my maternity leave. I asked to go in to do some KIT days, I explained I wanted to go in to help acting hod moderate coursework as he has never done this before, I also wanted to support other teacher in my department who is teaching 6th form for the first time. The exam paper she is teaching has only been taught by me so other members of the department are not really in a place to help. I was quite shocked to be told that I could not have any KIT days as the school does not do them due to finances. I had thought they had to be offered and did not realise it is at a head teacher's discretion.
When I return to work I go straight into a full timetable, in fact I have a 5 period day. I am not getting any handover at all with the member of staff who is leaving, her contract is terminated the day before I arrive. I will be taking over exam classes, that have started coursework etc and unless I go in without being paid I will have no information on them. I personally feel this is extremely detrimental to the students and I am feeling very anxious at the sudden leap back to full time work. I have been told I can go in to get any information I need if I want to but I will not be getting paid. I have already gone in for one day that I thought was really important for the students, and i paid for childcare during this day - so effectively I paid to go to work.
I would like to know if this is the norm for when a teacher returns and if therefore I should simply put up and shut up or if you have a differnet system for a member of staff to return to their teaching duties.
Thank you for any response
RW
This is the actual position:
Work during maternity leave may only take place by agreement between both employer and employee. An employer may not require an employee to work during maternity leave if she does not wish to, nor does an employee have the right to work Keeping in Touch Days if her employer does not agree to them.
That said, I've always agreed to them. You need to remember that even an hour's work for which you are paid counts as a whole KIT day.
Thank you I realsied after he siad no that this was the rule. I have been into school to work but I am not being paid at all but I knew this on the day I went in, I just thought it was important that I did go.
I am angry that I want to go in to help with students grades and have been told no. But mainly I am just shocked at the fact that I am not getting any hand over at all. My cover's contract is terminated the day before I go back - I am taking back my exam classes surely some handover is essential???
I'm afraid it is probably all down to cost - the school have paid cover wages whilst you have been off and also contributed to your maternity pay (Clearly your right and I am not suggesting it shouldn't be - just that your maternity is already a major expense to the school and now you are wanting more wage whilst the cover is still being paid)
Sorry if that sounds harsh but purely from a schools point of view your maternity has probably meant that the quality of teaching ahs gone down whilst expense has gone up
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