Maternity Leave Timeline Planner

Map the employer’s 15-week leave notice, separate SMP claim steps, evidence timing and return-date reminders for Great Britain.

Website updated 30 October 2026

Great Britain maternity timeline

Sample plan

This planner schedules reminders; it does not decide leave or SMP eligibility, calculate statutory pay, or replace the GOV.UK maternity planner.

Expected week begins

28 February 2027

Usual earliest leave start

13 December 2026

Edit sample dates

Employer notice and pay reminders

Tell your employer when the baby is due and when leave should start
15-week notice point: 20 November 2026
GOV.UK says to notify at least 15 weeks before the due date. Your entered leave-notice date: 1 November 2026.
Employer’s 28-day response reference: 29 November 2026.
Give separate notice if claiming Statutory Maternity Pay
28-day SMP notice reference: 8 January 2027
The employer may ask for written notice. Your entered SMP-notice date: 1 November 2026.
Employer’s 28-day SMP response reference: 29 November 2026.
Provide pregnancy evidence for SMP
Within 21 days of SMP starting: 26 February 2027
GOV.UK accepts a MATB1 certificate or a doctor/midwife letter. If the baby arrives early, provide proof as soon as possible. Pregnancy proof is not needed for the leave notice.
Planned leave start and return-date reminders
5 February 2027 · first date after a full 52 weeks: 4 February 2028
This reference assumes 52 weeks from the effective leave start; your first working day depends on your normal work pattern. Minimum compulsory leave after birth: 2 weeks.
Separate 15-week planning point for telling the employer about leave: 20 November 2026. These are different dates and steps.

Dates are planning reminders from GOV.UK’s published time periods. If you cannot meet a notice date, contact the employer as soon as possible; this tool cannot decide whether late notice is accepted. A pregnancy-related absence in the four weeks before the expected week can automatically start leave and is not calculated here.

Your Great Britain maternity dates

Expected due dateUse the date confirmed by your doctor or midwife.Planned maternity-leave startUsually no earlier than 11 weeks before the expected week.Planned SMP startOften the same as leave start; SMP notice is a separate step.Date you told the employer about leave, if sentOptional; shows the employer response reference.Date you gave SMP notice, if sentOptional; shows the separate SMP response reference.Actual birth date, if knownAn early birth can change the effective leave start.Changed or earlier return date, if plannedOptional; shows the eight-week notice date.I work in a factory (four compulsory weeks after birth)

Sample dates only. Your dates stay in this page session; they are not put in the URL or saved to an account.

A notice timeline, not a leave or pay decision

This page schedules reminders from dates you enter. The employer decides Statutory Maternity Leave and Statutory Maternity Pay (SMP) separately. If you do not qualify for SMP, ask for form SMP1 and check whether Maternity Allowance may apply through DWP.

The GOV.UK maternity planner already works out ordinary and additional leave dates. This tool adds a separate reminder view for the employer notice, SMP notice, pregnancy evidence and optional early-return steps. For leave eligibility, job protection and exceptions, read the Great Britain Maternity Leave guide. For 2026/27 SMP rates and a gross-pay illustration, use the Maternity & Paternity Pay Calculator.

This route covers employees whose job is in England, Scotland or Wales. Northern Ireland has separate employment rules and a different benefit administration route; use the Northern Ireland Maternity Leave and Pay guide. Your dates remain in this page session and are not stored in a shareable URL or account.

Maternity Leave timeline planner FAQs

Does this timeline apply to a job in Northern Ireland?

No. It follows the GOV.UK Great Britain route for England, Scotland and Wales. Northern Ireland has separate employment legislation and benefit administration; use the NI guide.

Does the planner decide whether I qualify for maternity leave?

No. It maps dates only. Statutory Maternity Leave is for employees who give the required notice; the employer must confirm your status and entitlement.

When should I tell my employer that I am taking maternity leave?

GOV.UK says to tell the employer at least 15 weeks before your due date, including when the baby is due and when you want leave to start. The date shown is a planning reminder; contact the employer promptly if you cannot meet it.

What must I tell the employer?

Give the expected due date and intended maternity-leave start date. The employer may ask for the notice in writing and must write back within 28 days to confirm the start and end dates.

How early can Statutory Maternity Leave usually start?

Usually up to 11 weeks before the expected week of childbirth. If the baby arrives before leave starts, leave begins the day after birth. A pregnancy-related absence in the four weeks before the expected week can also trigger an automatic start; this planner does not calculate that exception.

Is the SMP notice the same as telling my employer about leave?

No. SMP has a separate step. Tell the employer at least 28 days before the date you want SMP to start, or as soon as reasonably practicable. This planner keeps the two notice dates separate.

When do I need to give a MATB1 certificate?

For SMP, give a MATB1 certificate or a doctor/midwife letter within 21 days of the SMP start date, or as soon as possible if the baby arrives early. Pregnancy proof is not needed for the maternity-leave notice.

When must the employer confirm my leave and SMP?

GOV.UK says the employer normally confirms leave dates within 28 days of your leave notice, and confirms the SMP amount and start/stop dates within 28 days. Enter the date you sent each notice to see separate response references.

How long is Statutory Maternity Leave?

It can last up to 52 weeks: 26 weeks Ordinary Maternity Leave and 26 weeks Additional Maternity Leave. The planner shows the first date after a full 52 weeks from the effective leave start; your first working day depends on the normal work pattern.

How much maternity leave must I take after birth?

At least two weeks after birth, or four weeks if you work in a factory. Ask the employer to confirm how the compulsory period applies to your job.

What if I do not qualify for SMP?

Ask the employer for form SMP1, which GOV.UK says must be provided within seven days of the decision. You may be able to claim Maternity Allowance from DWP; its eligibility and claim dates are separate.

When should I notify my employer if I want to return early?

GOV.UK says to give at least eight weeks’ notice if changing the return date. Enter a proposed return date to see an eight-week reminder. The employer confirms how the date and leave record will change.

Does the planner estimate my maternity pay?

No. It does not decide SMP eligibility or calculate gross or take-home pay. Use the linked UK family-pay calculator for an illustration, then confirm eligibility and payroll with the employer.

Are my due date and leave dates saved or shared?

No. They remain in this page session and are not added to a URL or saved to an account. Reset sample restores the illustrative dates.

Official maternity leave and pay sources

Check the current Great Britain rules and ask the employer or DWP about individual decisions.

GOV.UK: Maternity pay and leave overview
The official maternity planner, leave/pay overview and route to eligibility.
GOV.UK: Statutory Maternity Leave
52-week entitlement, earliest start, early births and return-date changes.
GOV.UK: How to claim Maternity Leave and SMP
15-week leave notice, separate 28-day SMP notice, employer confirmation and pregnancy evidence.
GOV.UK: SMP eligibility
The separate employee-service and earnings tests for Statutory Maternity Pay.
GOV.UK: Statutory Maternity Pay rates
Payment period, statutory rate and employer-pay process.
GOV.UK: Maternity Allowance
The separate DWP benefit route where SMP is unavailable.
GOV.UK: Employee rights during maternity leave
Employment protections while taking statutory leave.

Loading tools

Employer notice and pay reminders

Tell your employer when the baby is due and when leave should start

15-week notice point: 20 November 2026

GOV.UK says to notify at least 15 weeks before the due date. Your entered leave-notice date: 1 November 2026.

Employer’s 28-day response reference: 29 November 2026.

Give separate notice if claiming Statutory Maternity Pay

28-day SMP notice reference: 8 January 2027

The employer may ask for written notice. Your entered SMP-notice date: 1 November 2026.

Employer’s 28-day SMP response reference: 29 November 2026.

Provide pregnancy evidence for SMP

Within 21 days of SMP starting: 26 February 2027

GOV.UK accepts a MATB1 certificate or a doctor/midwife letter. If the baby arrives early, provide proof as soon as possible. Pregnancy proof is not needed for the leave notice.

Planned leave start and return-date reminders

5 February 2027 · first date after a full 52 weeks: 4 February 2028

This reference assumes 52 weeks from the effective leave start; your first working day depends on your normal work pattern. Minimum compulsory leave after birth: 2 weeks.

Separate 15-week planning point for telling the employer about leave: 20 November 2026. These are different dates and steps.

Your Great Britain maternity dates

Expected due dateUse the date confirmed by your doctor or midwife.

Planned maternity-leave startUsually no earlier than 11 weeks before the expected week.

Planned SMP startOften the same as leave start; SMP notice is a separate step.

Date you told the employer about leave, if sentOptional; shows the employer response reference.

Date you gave SMP notice, if sentOptional; shows the separate SMP response reference.

Actual birth date, if knownAn early birth can change the effective leave start.

Changed or earlier return date, if plannedOptional; shows the eight-week notice date.

I work in a factory (four compulsory weeks after birth)

Sample dates only. Your dates stay in this page session; they are not put in the URL or saved to an account.

A notice timeline, not a leave or pay decision