Leave of Absence & Flexible Working
Information and guidance on managing teacher absences arising from a number of situations including paternity, maternity, adoption, sickness, union activities, negligence and a desire for flexible working arrangements.
Managing and promoting teacher attendance
This guidance has been developed with the aim of ensuring a consistent approach across employing authorities and schools in relation to the management of teacher attendance
- Regional Strategy for the Management and Promotion of Teacher Attendance
- Managing Attendance Strategy for the Education Sector 2019-2022
This policy and accompanying procedures establishes a clear framework for managing absence at local level, supported by sound professional human resources advice. Principals and staff should familiarise themselves with the policy and procedures.
This document explains how Statutory Annual Leave Entitlement is to apply when a teacher is absent as a result of long term sickness.
Absences not exceeding three working days
This Circular updates the arrangements that took effect from 1 August 1990 in relation to teachers being absent for 3 or less working days.
Absences exceeding three working days
This circular details the arrangements regarding "Teachers' leave of absence for a period exceeding three working days".
Parental leave
This circular replaces the Parental Leave 31 July 2000 document and provides information on the key elements of the parental leave provisions set out in the Maternity and Parental Leave Regulations (NI) 1999 and the Parental Leave (EU Directive) (Maternity and Parental Leave) Regulations (NI) 2013. This includes the right to 18 weeks paid leave for parents caring for a child under five (or under eighteen where the child is disabled).
The Shared Parental Leave Scheme has been updated to reflect the rules concerning statutory parental leave/shared parental leave as a consequence of the Work and Families Act (Northern Ireland) 2015 and further subsequent Regulations; and is the result of an agreement reached between the Management and Teachers’ Sides of the Teachers' Salaries and Conditions of Service Committee (Schools).
Paternity leave
The Paternity Leave Scheme has been updated to reflect the rules concerning statutory paternity leave as a consequence of the relevant legislation and is the result of an agreement reached between the Management and Teachers’ Sides of the Teachers' Salaries and Conditions of Service Committee (Schools).
Adoption leave
The Teachers' Adoption Leave Scheme has been updated to reflect the rules concerning statutory adoption leave as a consequence of the relevant legislation and is the result of an agreement reached between the Management and Teachers’ Sides of the Teachers' Salaries and Conditions of Service Committee (Schools).
Maternity leave
The Teachers' Maternity Leave Scheme has been updated to reflect the rules concerning statutory and occupational maternity leave as a consequence of the relevant legislation and is the result of an agreement reached between the Management and Teachers’ Sides of the Teachers' Salaries and Conditions of Service Committee (Schools).
A teacher’s entitlement to statutory leave is not affected by maternity leave, paid or unpaid.
Please also note for reference TNC 2009/1 - Statutory Leave Entitlement during Maternity Leave and the 'Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) on Maternity Leave and Pay for Teachers" produced by Employers'.
Temporary variation of contract
This explains how a teacher can seek a short term, temporary change in working hours, which is not facilitated in the other leave of Absence Schemes.
Flexible working
This scheme sets out the criteria and procedure to request flexible working arrangements.
This scheme sets out the objectives, eligibility criteria, application procedures and implications for those permanent teachers who wish to apply for a career break without salary for a period of not less than one year and not more than five years. The employers also issued an addendum to the career break scheme (TNC 2010/2 Career Break Scheme addendum) to all schools.
Job sharing is a method of working where two teachers share one full-time post. This scheme sets out the eligibility criteria and application process for teachers wishing to apply for job-sharing.
Absence due to the negligence of a third party
This document explains the arrangements for the recovery of sickness allowance, where a teacher is absent from work as a result of injury from a third party and damages are payable to the teacher in respect of such injury.
Absences due to union business
This circular details the number of days each of the five recognised teacher unions in Northern Ireland have been allocated, per year, for substitute cover for teachers absent on union business.