{
  "_meta": {
    "lastReviewed": "2026-10-09",
    "source": "Checked 2026-10-09 (fix 20261009-b3-maternity). Police officers: Police Regulations 2003 Annex L as amended by Home Office Circular 003/2020 (in force 4/1/2021) https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/circular-0032020-amending-annexes-l-r-under-police-regulations-2003/annex-l and Annex S (maternity support leave) https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5a7b14a840f0b66a2fc0503f/determinations.pdf . Police staff: Police Staff Council handbook (March 2026) maternity provisions 5.2 and maternity support leave https://www.local.gov.uk/sites/default/files/documents/Police%20Staff%20Council%20Handbook%20-%202026.pdf . Fire: Grey Book 7th edition (April 2025) Section 4 Part D paras 20, 21, 39, 40 https://www.cumbriafire.gov.uk/sites/default/files/2025-06/April%202025%207th%20edition%20-%20Grey%20Book.pdf ; Gold Book 6th edition para 26 and Appendix C apply it to brigade managers https://www.lincolnshire.gov.uk/downloads/file/10379/national-joint-council-for-brigade-managers-publication-of-the-sixth-edition-of-the-gold-book . HMPPS: https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/hm-prison-and-probation-service/about/recruitment and Prison Service employee package section 4.2 https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/looking-after-our-people-the-prison-service-employee-package/looking-after-our-people-the-prison-service-employee-package--2 . Councils: NJC Green Book (May 2024) Part 2 para 7.6 https://www.gloucestershire.gov.uk/media/0gokyg2v/green-book-may-2024.pdf . Teachers: Burgundy Book (June 2023) has no paternity scheme https://www.gloucestershire.gov.uk/media/ashkb0py/burgundy-book-conditions-of-service-for-school-teachers-in-england-5.pdf . Other sectors not re-checked in this pass."
  },
  "nhs_afc": {
    "name": "NHS Agenda for Change",
    "maternity": {
      "enhancedWeeksFull": 8,
      "enhancedWeeksHalf": 18,
      "note": "8 weeks full pay (less SMP or Maternity Allowance, MA), 18 weeks half pay (plus SMP or MA, total not exceeding full pay). Then SMP or MA for 13 weeks, then unpaid to 52 weeks. You need 12 months' continuous NHS service by the 11th week before the baby is due."
    },
    "paternity": {
      "enhancedWeeksFull": 2,
      "note": "2 weeks' full pay (often in addition to or topping up statutory paternity). Check employer policy."
    },
    "sourceNote": "NHS Terms and Conditions. Occupational pay is based on average earnings. Keeping in touch (KIT) days: up to 10 without affecting pay. Return for 3 months or repay occupational maternity pay (OMP) if spread."
  },
  "nhs_junior_doctor": {
    "name": "NHS Junior Doctor",
    "maternity": {
      "enhancedWeeksFull": 8,
      "enhancedWeeksHalf": 18,
      "note": "Typically same as AfC or similar. Check contract and employer."
    },
    "paternity": {
      "enhancedWeeksFull": 2,
      "note": "Check contract."
    },
    "sourceNote": "Check your contract and employer."
  },
  "teachers_pay": {
    "name": "School Teachers",
    "maternity": {
      "enhancedWeeksFull": 4,
      "enhancedWeeksHalf": 12,
      "enhancedWeeksNinety": 2,
      "note": "Common pattern: 4 weeks full pay, 2 weeks at 90%, 12 weeks at half pay plus SMP (up to full pay), then SMP. The government has announced 8 weeks full pay for teachers and leaders from 2027/28 (government-funded, not yet in force). School holidays can affect when leave is taken."
    },
    "paternity": {
      "enhancedWeeksFull": 0,
      "note": "The Burgundy Book (national teachers' conditions) has no paternity pay scheme, so the legal minimum applies: Statutory Paternity Pay (SPP). Some schools and councils pay more, so check your school's policy."
    },
    "sourceNote": "STPCD / Burgundy Book; academies often follow. Policies vary. Check school."
  },
  "schools": {
    "name": "School Teachers",
    "maternity": {
      "enhancedWeeksFull": 4,
      "enhancedWeeksHalf": 12,
      "enhancedWeeksNinety": 2,
      "note": "Common pattern: 4 weeks full pay, 2 weeks at 90%, 12 weeks at half pay plus SMP (up to full pay), then SMP. The government has announced 8 weeks full pay for teachers and leaders from 2027/28 (government-funded, not yet in force). School holidays can affect when leave is taken."
    },
    "paternity": {
      "enhancedWeeksFull": 0,
      "note": "The Burgundy Book (national teachers' conditions) has no paternity pay scheme, so the legal minimum applies: Statutory Paternity Pay (SPP). Some schools and councils pay more, so check your school's policy."
    },
    "sourceNote": "STPCD / Burgundy Book; academies often follow. Policies vary. Check school."
  },
  "civil_service": {
    "name": "Civil Service",
    "maternity": {
      "enhancedWeeksFull": 26,
      "enhancedWeeksHalf": 0,
      "note": "Many departments: 26 weeks full pay (less SMP), then SMP to 39 weeks. Or similar. Check department."
    },
    "paternity": {
      "enhancedWeeksFull": 2,
      "note": "Typically 2 weeks' full pay. Shared parental: department policy."
    },
    "sourceNote": "Delegated; varies by department. Check intranet/HR."
  },
  "local_government": {
    "name": "NJC Green Book",
    "maternity": {
      "enhancedWeeksFull": 0,
      "enhancedWeeksNinety": 6,
      "enhancedWeeksHalf": 12,
      "note": "Green Book minimum: 6 weeks at 90% of pay (SMP included), then 12 weeks at half pay plus SMP, as long as the total does not go above full pay. Then 21 weeks of SMP, then unpaid to 52 weeks. You need 1 year's continuous local government service by the 11th week before the baby is due. By agreement, the half pay can be spread over up to 33 weeks. Many councils offer more. Check employer."
    },
    "paternity": {
      "enhancedWeeksFull": 1,
      "note": "Green Book Part 2 para 7.6: 5 days' maternity support leave with pay for the father, partner or nominated carer. Any more paternity or shared parental pay is set by your council's own policy, so check it."
    },
    "sourceNote": "NJC Green Book (May 2024), Part 2 paras 7.6 and 11.5. These are national minimums and many councils offer more. Check your employer."
  },
  "police_pay": {
    "name": "Police Regulations (police officers)",
    "maternity": {
      "enhancedWeeksFull": 26,
      "enhancedWeeksHalf": 0,
      "note": "Police Regulations 2003, Annex L: 26 weeks at full pay, with SMP counted as part of it, if you have 63 weeks' continuous police service by the start of the week the baby is due. You can choose half pay in weeks 22 to 31 instead of full pay in weeks 22 to 26. Then SMP to week 39, then unpaid to 52 weeks."
    },
    "paternity": {
      "enhancedWeeksFull": 1,
      "note": "Annex S: 2 weeks' maternity support (paternity) leave. Week 1 is at full pay. Week 2 is at the Statutory Paternity Pay (SPP) rate if you have 26 weeks' continuous police service by the 15th week before the baby is due."
    },
    "sourceNote": "Police Regulations 2003, Annex L (maternity pay, as amended by Home Office Circular 003/2020, in force from 4/1/2021) and Annex S (maternity support leave). These cover police officers in England and Wales. PCSOs and other police staff are on Police Staff Council terms instead."
  },
  "police_staff": {
    "name": "Police Staff Council (police staff, including PCSOs)",
    "maternity": {
      "enhancedWeeksFull": 26,
      "enhancedWeeksHalf": 0,
      "note": "Police Staff Council handbook: 26 weeks at full pay (SMP counts towards it) if you have a year's continuous service at the 11th week before the baby is due. With your employer's agreement, the last 5 weeks can be paid as 10 weeks at half pay. Then SMP to week 39, then unpaid. You must return for at least a month or may have to repay it. If you do not plan to return, you get SMP only after the first 6 weeks."
    },
    "paternity": {
      "enhancedWeeksFull": 0,
      "note": "2 weeks' maternity support (paternity) leave, paid in line with the statutory entitlement: Statutory Paternity Pay (SPP). Your force may pay more."
    },
    "sourceNote": "Police Staff Council handbook (March 2026), maternity provisions (para 5.2) and maternity support leave. This is a minimum: some forces pay more, and a few forces do not use Police Staff Council terms. Check your force."
  },
  "fire_rescue": {
    "name": "Fire and Rescue",
    "maternity": {
      "enhancedWeeksFull": 26,
      "enhancedWeeksHalf": 0,
      "note": "Grey Book Section 4 Part D para 21: with a year's continuous local government service at the 11th week before the baby is due, 6 weeks at full pay, then a further 20 weeks at full pay if you say you will return (SMP counts towards both), then 13 weeks of SMP. You must return for at least 3 months or may have to repay some or all of the 20 weeks. If you do not plan to return, you get SMP for the 33 weeks after the first 6. With less service, SMP only."
    },
    "paternity": {
      "enhancedWeeksFull": 1,
      "note": "Grey Book paras 39 and 40: 1 week of paid maternity support (paternity) leave, with Statutory Paternity Pay (SPP) counted towards it. A second week is paid at the SPP rate if you have 26 weeks' continuous local government service at the 14th week before the baby is due."
    },
    "sourceNote": "Grey Book (national fire and rescue terms, 7th edition, 2025), Section 4 Part D. These are national minimums that services can improve. Brigade managers on Gold Book terms get the same Grey Book maternity provisions. Some fire safety officers are support staff on council (Green Book) terms instead."
  },
  "armed_forces": {
    "name": "Armed Forces",
    "maternity": {
      "enhancedWeeksFull": 26,
      "enhancedWeeksHalf": 0,
      "note": "Service regulations: typically 26 weeks full pay (less SMP). Check JSP."
    },
    "paternity": {
      "enhancedWeeksFull": 2,
      "note": "Service policy. Check JSP."
    },
    "sourceNote": "JSP; varies by service. Check service HR."
  },
  "courts_judiciary": {
    "name": "Courts and Judiciary",
    "maternity": {
      "enhancedWeeksFull": 26,
      "enhancedWeeksHalf": 0,
      "note": "Court staff: often civil service–style (e.g. 26 weeks full). Check employer."
    },
    "paternity": {
      "enhancedWeeksFull": 2,
      "note": "Check employer."
    },
    "sourceNote": "Employer policy."
  },
  "probation_prisons": {
    "name": "Probation and Prisons",
    "maternity": {
      "enhancedWeeksFull": 26,
      "enhancedWeeksHalf": 0,
      "note": "HMPPS: up to 26 weeks at full pay, then 13 weeks of SMP and 13 weeks unpaid (52 weeks in all). The HMPPS family leave policy sets the service and return-to-work conditions."
    },
    "paternity": {
      "enhancedWeeksFull": 2,
      "note": "HMPPS: 2 weeks' maternity support (paternity) leave at full pay."
    },
    "sourceNote": "GOV.UK, Working for HMPPS, and the Prison Service employee package (section 4.2, family leave). This covers HMPPS staff in prisons, probation and youth custody. Staff in privately run prisons or council youth offending teams are on their own employer's terms."
  },
  "fe_pay": {
    "name": "Further Education",
    "maternity": {
      "enhancedWeeksFull": 8,
      "enhancedWeeksHalf": 18,
      "note": "College policy; often similar to AfC (8 full, 18 half). Check college."
    },
    "paternity": {
      "enhancedWeeksFull": 2,
      "note": "Check college."
    },
    "sourceNote": "AoC or college policy. Check your college."
  },
  "further_education": {
    "name": "Further Education",
    "maternity": {
      "enhancedWeeksFull": 8,
      "enhancedWeeksHalf": 18,
      "note": "College policy; often similar to AfC (8 full, 18 half). Check college."
    },
    "paternity": {
      "enhancedWeeksFull": 2,
      "note": "Check college."
    },
    "sourceNote": "AoC or college policy. Check your college."
  },
  "he_pay": {
    "name": "Higher Education",
    "maternity": {
      "enhancedWeeksFull": 18,
      "enhancedWeeksHalf": 0,
      "note": "Institutional; often 18–26 weeks full pay (less SMP). Check institution."
    },
    "paternity": {
      "enhancedWeeksFull": 2,
      "note": "Check institution."
    },
    "sourceNote": "University policy. Check HR."
  },
  "higher_education": {
    "name": "Higher Education",
    "maternity": {
      "enhancedWeeksFull": 18,
      "enhancedWeeksHalf": 0,
      "note": "Institutional; often 18–26 weeks full pay (less SMP). Check institution."
    },
    "paternity": {
      "enhancedWeeksFull": 2,
      "note": "Check institution."
    },
    "sourceNote": "University policy. Check HR."
  },
  "transport_bodies": {
    "name": "Transport Bodies",
    "maternity": {
      "enhancedWeeksFull": 12,
      "enhancedWeeksHalf": 0,
      "note": "Varies by employer. Illustrative. Check employer."
    },
    "paternity": {
      "enhancedWeeksFull": 2,
      "note": "Check employer."
    },
    "sourceNote": "Employer policy. Illustrative."
  },
  "default": {
    "name": "Public sector (illustrative)",
    "maternity": {
      "enhancedWeeksFull": 8,
      "enhancedWeeksHalf": 18,
      "note": "Illustrative. Many employers offer 8 weeks full + 18 weeks half (plus SMP). Check your employer."
    },
    "paternity": {
      "enhancedWeeksFull": 2,
      "note": "Often 2 weeks full pay. Check employer."
    },
    "sourceNote": "Illustrative. Always check your employer and contract. Statutory entitlements (SMP, SPP) apply as minimum."
  }
}