4. Statutory adoption leave and surrogacy leave
[ch 4: page 35]From 5 April 2015, the Children and Families Act 2014 brings adoption leave and pay entitlements in line with the amount of leave and pay available to birth parents.
From this date adopting parents will be entitled to various new rights including entitlement to adoption leave from day one of their employment, and the current 26 weeks service requirement will be abolished. Those taking adoption leave will be entitled to 90% of full pay for the first six weeks and adopting parents will also have the right to have paid time off during working hours to attend introductory appointments.
Also from 5 April 2015, intended parents involved in a surrogacy arrangement who intend to apply for a “parental order” and those parents who wish to “foster to adopt” will also qualify for adoption leave and pay.
From 1 October 2014, under the Children and Families Act 2014 those involved in a surrogacy arrangement and intending to adopt, are entitled to have unpaid time off to attend up to two antenatal appointments.
For babies due on or after 5 April 2015, parents who qualify for adoption leave will also be entitled to take shared parental leave for a year from the birth (see Chapter 2).