You can take up to 2 weeks paid Paternity/Maternity Support leave. You can choose to take the leave as either two consecutive weeks or two separate one week blocks. It cannot be taken as odd days. If you chose to take your leave as two separate one week blocks, you must provide at least 28 days notice before commencing each period of leave.

Paternity leave can start on any day of the week on or following the child’s birth, but must be completed:

• within 52 weeks of the actual date of birth of your child or date of placement of your child for adoption
• if your child is born early, within the period from the actual date of birth, up to 52 weeks after the first day of the expected week of birth.

To qualify for paid paternity leave you must have at least 26 weeks’ service by the expected week of birth or date of placement.

You and your partner can choose to curtail their maternity/adoption leave and convert the remaining leave entitlement into Shared Parental Leave. This leave can then be divided between yourself and your partner and taken in the first 52 weeks following the child’s birth or placement for adoption.  

Depending on how much leave your partner has taken, you could receive up to 37 weeks’ Statutory Shared Parental Leave Pay or up to 18 weeks’ full pay and 19 weeks’ Statutory Shared Parental Leave pay if you opt into the College Shared Parental Leave Scheme.

For full information regarding Shared Parental Leave and pay including eligibility requirements, please go to the ‌Shared Parental Leave policy.

You will continue to accrue annual leave and mandatory leave during Shared Parental Leave.

Please select Shared Parental Leave Process for further details.