Leave · 7 min read

Annual leave entitlement in the public sector

How annual leave days and hours are set for NHS, NJC, Civil Service and school support staff, including part-time pro-rata.

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Contractual leave vs teachers' holidays

Most public sector staff accrue a pot of annual leave days plus bank holidays where included in the total. Teachers take leave mainly in school holidays rather than a fixed day allowance; support staff in schools usually follow NJC-style leave. Always identify which framework applies to you.

Service-related increases

AfC increases leave after five and ten years of service. NJC and Civil Service have similar service bands. Part-time staff receive pro-rata days and hours based on contracted weekly hours versus full-time hours for the sector.

Part-year starters

New starters may receive a proportion of annual entitlement in year one depending on start date and employer qualifying rules. The calculators pro-rate where sector rules allow; HR confirms local practice.