Parental Leave Policy - April 2026

Notice to take ordinary parental leave

To take ordinary parental leave, you must give your line manager and the Absence Team at least 21 days' notice, counting back from the date on which the leave is to start. Your notice should set out the dates on which you intend to take the leave.

You should inform your manager and the Absence Team by completing the application form Parental Leave Application Form through My View via My Forms.
 
Fathers or others who will have parental responsibility - leave starting at birth

If you want your leave to begin when your child is born (whether the birth is earlier or later than expected), you must give your line manager and the Absence Team at least 21 days' notice, counting back from the start of the expected week of childbirth.

Your notice should set out the expected week of childbirth and the length of leave you wish to take.

Adopters - leave starting on child's placement

If you want your leave to begin when the child is placed with you for adoption (whether the placement is earlier or later than expected), you must give your line manager and the Absence Team at least 21 days' notice, counting back from the beginning of the week in which the placement is expected to occur.

If 21 days' notice is not possible, please give us notice as soon as you can.

Your notice should set out the week in which the placement is expected to occur and the length of leave you wish to take.

You should inform your manager and the Absence Team by completing the application form Parental Leave Application Form through My View via My Forms. 

Paternity leave

If you are considering taking ordinary parental leave on the birth of your child (or if you are an adopter, the placement of the child with you for adoption), you should bear in mind that you may also be entitled to take up to two weeks' paid paternity leave - please see our separate Paternity Leave policy.