Leave entitlements for staff

Get to grips with the statutory and additional leave entitlements of teachers and support staff, including maternity, paternity, neonatal and adoption leave. Plus, understand when discretionary leave might be requested.

Updated
on 23 April 2025
See updates
School types: AllSchool phases: AllRef: 10064
Contents
  1. Additional entitlements for school staff 
  2. Minimum statutory requirements
  3. Discretionary leave

Additional entitlements for school staff 

Be aware that teachers and support staff may have additional entitlements (on top of the statutory entitlements set out below) because of national conditions of service, or as part of their contracts.

Maintained schools

  • The Conditions of Service for School Teachers in England and Wales (the Burgundy Book) covers conditions of service for most teachers
  • The National Joint Council for Local Government Services National Agreement on Pay and Conditions of Service (the Green Book) covers conditions of service for most support staff

Download the Burgundy Book and Green Book from the National Education Union (NEU)'s website.

We summarise the main additional entitlements in these articles: 

Academies 

However, some staff may be entitled to the conditions covered in the Burgundy or Green Book. For example, if their employment