I teach at a CBSE school and the leave for fathers is one week. My partner will have full maternity leave, so the question is only about my week. Everyone says take it at the birth. My partner thinks it would be more useful once the first visitors have gone home and the days get lonely. I can see both. Our school day also starts at 7.40, so even on working days I'm out of the house early.
take it at the start. the first week you're running between the hospital, the pharmacy and the paperwork anyway, and nobody remembers to feed the new parents
That's what my head of department said too. He also added 'not during exam week', which is the more likely problem.
my partner took his days at the birth and the harder stretch was weeks 3 to 6 when everyone had gone home. if there's any way to split it do that
I agree, the visitors leave just when the tiredness starts. Could you ask whether your school would consider a few weeks of half days or a later start instead of one full week? Some schools agree to that for staff with a newborn, some don't, but it costs nothing to ask.
Replying to @citrus_kite_8599
I hadn't thought of half days. With our timetable a morning-only arrangement wouldn't help much, but starting after the first two periods might. I'll ask before the term plan is fixed.
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