Maternity Leave
How Long Is Maternity Leave in the UK?
If you are an employee, you can usually take up to 52 weeks of Statutory Maternity Leave. You do not have to take the full year, although there is a short perio
5 min readRead article
The Learn Library
Maternity, paternity and parental leave and pay — explained.
Clear, practical guides to your leave rights and pay as a new parent in the UK. Based on current legislation, written so you can actually make sense of it.
Browse by collection
Five collections grouping our guides around the most common family leave questions and decisions.
Maternity Leave
For mums and birth parents planning leave, pay and return-to-work options.
Paternity Leave
For partners and non-birth parents planning leave and pay.
Shared Parental Leave
For parents considering sharing leave or pay between them.
Planning Your Leave
Cross-cutting practical planning — sequencing, pay drops, annual leave and more.
3 Minute Guides
Short explainers for the topics families ask about most.
Tools
A selection of tools to help you navigate your leave and pay.
Calculator
Maternity Pay Timeline Calculator
See how statutory maternity pay changes across the first 6 weeks, next 33 weeks and unpaid period.
Open toolCalculator
Maternity Pay Qualifying Week Calculator
Use your due date to find your expected week of childbirth and your qualifying week for Statutory Maternity Pay.
Open toolBrowse by topic
Paternity & SPL
How Much Is Paternity Pay in the UK?
If you qualify for Statutory Paternity Pay, you can currently receive £194.32 a week or 90% of your average weekly earnings, whichever is lower.
6 min readRead article
Paternity & SPL
How Long Is Paternity Leave in the UK?
If you are having a baby, statutory paternity leave is usually up to two weeks. But exactly how those two weeks can be taken depends on where you work in the UK
5 min readRead article
Maternity Leave
How much is Statutory Maternity Pay?
Learn about Statutory Maternity Pay (SMP) rates, eligibility rules, and how the 39-week payment period works to help you plan your maternity leave budget.
3 min readRead article
Rates & Rules
Unpaid Parental Leave: A 3 Minute Guide
Learn how Unpaid Parental Leave works, who qualifies, and how it can be used to extend your time at home or manage childcare transitions.
3 min readRead article
Maternity Leave
Maternity Leave and Pay: Everything You Need to Know
A complete guide to maternity leave and pay — how long you can take, who qualifies for Statutory Maternity Pay, what happens with annual leave and pensions, and how to plan your return to work.
8 min readRead article
Paternity & SPL
Paternity Leave and Pay: Everything You Need to Know
A complete UK guide to paternity leave and Statutory Paternity Pay — how the two weeks work, who qualifies, what changes in April 2026, and how to combine paternity leave with annual leave or Shared Parental Leave.
10 min readRead article
Maternity Leave
Maternity Allowance: A 3 Minute Guide
A quick 3-minute guide to Maternity Allowance in the UK — who qualifies, how much you can get, how it works if you're self-employed, and the planning mistakes to avoid before your income changes.
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Paternity & SPL
Shared Parental Leave: A 3 Minute Guide
A quick 3-minute guide to Shared Parental Leave — how much leave and pay can be shared, who qualifies, how flexible it is, and the trade-offs to weigh up before choosing SPL.
3 min readRead article
Paternity & SPL
Paternity Leave: A 3 Minute Guide
A quick 3-minute guide to paternity leave and pay — how long you can take, who qualifies, how Statutory Paternity Pay works, and how to plan your two weeks around your family's needs.
3 min readRead article
Paternity & SPL
Shared Parental Leave: Everything You Need to Know
A plain-English guide to Shared Parental Leave in the UK — how SPL works, who qualifies, how much leave and pay are available, and the trade-offs to weigh up before deciding.
8 min readRead article
Maternity Leave
Maternity Leave: A 3 Minute Guide
A quick 3-minute guide to UK maternity leave and pay — how long you can take off, who qualifies for Statutory Maternity Pay, and how to plan around uneven income across the year.
3 min readRead article