Overview
Congratulations on the exciting news of welcoming a new family member! In this guide, we’ll walk you through what to do if you're enrolled in an apprenticeship and have parental leave on the horizon.
Will Parental Leave mean I have to pause my apprenticeship?
If you find yourself taking a break from work for four weeks or more, it’s true that your apprenticeship will need to be paused to comply with ESFA requirements. But don’t worry! There are options in place to help you smoothly continue your apprenticeship when you return.
What should I do if I have Parental Leave coming up?
Once you feel comfortable, we encourage you to have a chat with your coach. Letting them know about your upcoming parental leave allows them to help you create a plan for your return. They will also assist in processing the pause for your apprenticeship if your time away exceeds four weeks.
Can I use this time to catch up on Off-the-Job Training?
While it might be tempting to use time away from work to get ahead, the ESFA regulations state that all off-the-job (OTJ) hours need to be completed during working hours. This means you won’t be able to log OTJ hours while on parental leave.