Only one partner will be eligible for Adoption Leave. The other partner may still be eligible for 2 weeks’ paid paternity leave or shared parental leave.

In order to qualify for adoption rights, you must:

• Be newly matched with a child for adoption by an adoption agency
• Submit a matching certificate to the college

Please refer to the policy for further details regarding eligibility.

You are required to submit your completed adoption leave/pay application form to your manager and or HR (Annex A in the Adoption Policy). The information must be notified within 7 days of being notified by the adoption agency that you have been matched with a child, or as soon as is reasonable practicable.

If you qualify for adoption leave, you will be entitled to take up to 52 weeks adoption leave (26 weeks ordinary adoption leave and 26 weeks additional adoption leave).

Employees who do not have 26 weeks continuous service leading into the week in which he/she is notified of being matched with a child will not be eligible for Adoption Leave and/or Adoption Pay; but you may apply for unpaid adoption leave.

Statutory Adoption Pay (SAP)

Providing the Statutory Adoption Pay criteria is satisfied, you will be entitled to the following payments:

• 6 weeks at 90% of average earnings;
• 33 weeks SAP, or 90% of average weekly earnings if this is less than the current SMP flat rate.

(Please refer to the Adoption Policy for further information on criteria)

Contractual Adoption Pay

Providing the Contractual Adoption pay criteria is satisfied, you will be entitled to the following payments:

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• Length of Service – 12 months or more (at the week in which the adopter is notified of having been matched with a child)
  • 4 weeks "full" pay;
  • 2 weeks at 90% of average weekly earnings; (weeks 4 – 6)
  • 33 weeks "half" pay plus SAP;
  • 13 weeks unpaid leave.

This equates to a maximum total of 52 weeks leave.

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• Length of Service – equal to/or greater than 26 weeks but less than 12 months (at the week in which the adopter is notified of having been matched with a child)
  • 6 weeks at 90% of average earnings;
  • 33 weeks SAP;
  • 13 weeks unpaid leave.

This equates to a maximum total of 52 weeks leave.

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• Length of Service – less than 26 weeks (at the week in which the adopter is notified of having been matched with a child)

An employee whose length of service is less than 26 weeks at the week in which the adopter is notified of having been matched with a child, will be eligible for unpaid Adoption Leave, and unpaid Additional Adoption Leave (please refer to Appendix 1 within the Adoption Policy)

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https://www.acas.org.uk/adoption https://www.gov.uk/adoption-pay-leave/overview