Employment and Training

There is lots of information for parents and parents-to-be in relation to Employment and Training. Whether it is Maternity or Paternity Leave, or Flexible Working or Parental Leave.

Useful information for working parents-to-be

• Maternity and Paternity Leave - This factsheet is designed to help you understand what your rights are with regard to Maternity Leave and Paternity Leave. Download the Maternity and Paternity leave factsheet (PDF, 475KB)   If you are a new dad and your partner is returning or has returned to work, you could have the right to up to 26 weeks' Additional Paternity Leave. Find out if you qualify Additional Paternity Leave.
• Maternity and Paternity Pay - This leaflet is designed to give you information regarding your rights to Maternity and Paternity Pay Factsheet 4. Download the Maternity and Paternity Pay factsheet (PDF, 477KB)
• Employment Laws when pregnant – This guide helps answer some of the questions you may have about continuing to work while pregnant or about returning to work after giving birth. In particular, it sets out what action you need to take and what action your employer should take to protect your health and safety and that of your child.
• Maternity, paternity and adoption rights at work - By completing a series of questions on direct.gov, you will be given a personalised statement of your rights at work during the birth or adoption of your child.

Useful information about working patterns for working parents

• Flexible working - A factsheet giving you information about your right to request flexible working from your employer. Download the Flexible Working Factsheet (PDF, 478KB)
• The Directgov website has a tool that will help you decide what flexible working patterns suit your needs and give you guidance in drawing up a case to convince your employer this can be found on the Directgov website.
• Think Fathers - How Flexible Working for Dads Can Work for Your Business (PDF, 1MB) is a useful document for all those that employ Dads.
• Parental Leave - This factsheet gives you information about Parental Leave, which is available for you to make arrangements for your child's welfare. Download the Parental Leave factsheet (PDF, 997KB)
• The Citizens Advice Bureau have produced a leaflet called Time Off Work (PDF, 44KB) which explains employees leave rights to time off.

Useful information about learning and training

• Next Steps on the National careers service - the new adult careers service helps you to make more effective skills, careers, work and life choices.
• Student Finances - This guide sets out what financial assistance is available for parents who are in higher education. It also has contact numbers to ring in order to apply for the assistance.
• The Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA) scheme closed to new applicants on 1 January 2011, although schools, colleges and training providers have funds to help you if you’re studying and face financial hardship.
• The National Careers Service (external link) provides information, advice and guidance to help you make decisions on learning, training and work opportunities. The service offers confidential, helpful and impartial advice, supported by qualified careers advisers

For more information on paying for childcare when you are a student, please return to the Benefits and Funding section of this site.

Other useful information

• Working Families is a website that aims to help working parents achieve work-life balance. They also produce a useful booklet called Returning to Work (PDF, 1.1MB) 
• Job Centre Plus – Information on finding a job, benefits entitlements and your nearest Job Centre Plus office.
• Are you aware of your paternity rights in the workplace?  More information is also available on flexible working, parental leave and homeworking, all for Dads. Also, a leaflet called 'Rights for Dads at Work: We speak your language' (PDF, 1.2MB) sets out information for new fathers on their rights at work
• Our Support for Employees page provides useful information for queries surrounding your employment