The Government's Family Leave Review - What does it mean for Teachers and SPL?

In summer 2025, the government announced it would conduct an 18-month review of all things family leave (formerly known as the Parental Leave and Pay Review). The UK's current system is undisputedly a mess - a hotchpotch of regulations, bits bolted on here and there. That's why we exist; the current system is hard to navigate!

The review included an initial gathering of evidence, which took place in the second half of 2025, and is being conducted by the Department for Business and Trade and the Department for Work and Pensions.

What is the purpose of the Family Leave Review?

The purpose of the review is to consider how the current system could be improved to better support working families and meet the needs of a modern economy. All aspects of family leave will be covered - maternity, paternity, adoption, neonatal and shared parental. The results of it are expected in early 2027 - and will take the form of a set of findings, and a roadmap which will include next steps for any potential reforms.

What does this mean for SPL?

At this stage we just don't know, it may stay as it is, it may have reforms, it may go altogether if the whole system is replaced. What we can predict is the following:

• If minor reforms are suggested it is unlikely, based on government legislating process timeframes, that these would come into effect before April 2028.

• If major reforms are suggested these would likely take significant time to debate and draft, so we would not except them before April 2029.

In short, we just won't know until early next year where this all might be going. In time this option for teachers may disappear...so it is certainly something to consider when planning when to have a child - we can be fairly confident that any child due before April 2028 will benefit from the current legislation, but beyond that it is more of an unknown (not that the timing of a baby is the easiest thing to plan!).

We will be watching this very closely and will post regular updates with how any announced changes affect teachers and their pay calculations for their family leave, in the new year.