Notice to take paternity leave (birth)

Notice of entitlement (birth)

Before you can take paternity leave, you must give [your line manager/the HR department] written notice at least 15 weeks before the expected week of childbirth. Your notice must confirm:

the expected week of childbirth; and
that you meet the eligibility requirements to take paternity leave.

You should submit your notice using Form to provide notice of entitlement to paternity leave (birth) available from [the HR department/intranet].

Period of leave notice (birth)

Each time that you wish to take a period of paternity leave, you must give [your line manager/the HR department] further written notice confirming:

when you want to start your leave (you may take this in one single block or two separate blocks);
whether you wish to take one or two weeks' leave; and
that the purpose of the leave is to care for the child or support the child's mother.

Notice to take paternity leave (birth)

You can choose to start a period of paternity leave:

On the date of your child's birth: Your period of leave notice must reach us at least 28 days before the first day of the expected week of childbirth.
A set number of days after your child's birth: Your period of leave notice must reach us at least 28 days before the date that falls that set number of days counted from the first day of the expected week of childbirth.
On a predetermined date: This date must be no earlier than the first day of the expected week of childbirth. Your period of leave notice must reach us at least 28 days before that predetermined date.

You should submit your notice using Form to provide period of leave notice to take paternity leave (birth) available from [the HR department/intranet].

Transitional notice rules (for employees who become entitled to paternity leave because the previous qualifying service requirement no longer applies)

Notice to take paternity leave (birth)

You do not need to give the two separate notices set out above where both of the following apply:

the expected week of childbirth is in the period from 5 April to 25 July 2026 inclusive; and
you only become entitled to paternity leave because the 26-week qualifying service requirement will be removed on 6 April 2026.

In this situation, you must submit your notice using Form to provide notice to take paternity leave (for births where transitional arrangements apply ), available from [the HR department/intranet].

You may submit this form from 18 February 2026, and it must reach us at least 28 days before the date on which you intend your paternity leave to start. The 28-day period will depend on the option you choose for the start of your leave (for example, the date of birth, a set number of days after your child's birth, or a predetermined date - see above).

Notice to take paternity leave (birth)

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