This article has been written for the Koru Kids nanny service. It is to help nannies understand whether they are eligible for maternity and sick pay.
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Maternity pay
To be eligible for Statutory Maternity Pay, you must meet the following criteria:
Have worked continuously for 26 weeks with the same employer before your qualifying week.
Earn at least £123 a week on average for 8 weeks before your qualifying week.
You can use this government calculator to check whether you are eligible.
If you meet these criteria, Koru Kids will calculate your entitlement and process monthly payments accordingly.
In case you are not eligible for SMP, you may still be able to apply for maternity allowance which you can read more about here.
How long can I take for maternity leave?
You can take up to 52 weeks of maternity leave, and you have the flexibility to start your leave from 11 weeks before your baby is due. The specific details of your leave period should be discussed directly with the family you work for. Remember to keep Koru Kids informed about the start and end dates of your maternity leave.
Additional Resources: For further information and guidance, we recommend checking the ACAS website and the Government website. These resources offer valuable insights into your rights and responsibilities during maternity leave.
Sick pay
From 6 April 2026, the rules around Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) changed. To be eligible, you must:
Have done at least one shift for the family
Have at least one qualifying day of sickness absence
Tell the family you are sick within 7 days
The previous earnings threshold of £125 per week no longer applies from 6 April 2026 onwards — all employees are now eligible regardless of their earnings. SSP is also now payable from the first day of sickness absence, with no waiting days.
If you are unwell, it's important that you let the family know as soon as possible so they can make other arrangements.
It's also important that you let us know about any shifts you'll miss on your timesheet, so that we can pay you correctly and don't overcharge the family. This leave must be logged by the 25th of the month. You can read about logging leave here.
Once this is logged, we will share this with our payroll team who will look into whether you're eligible for SSP. We review sick leave at the end of the month, so there will be a short delay in hearing back and we'll be in touch as soon as we can.
Do I need to provide a sick note?
If you will be off work for 7 or more days, we will require proof of sickness. You'll need to contact your GP (or the hospital) for a doctor's 'fit note'. You can read more about providing proof of sickness here.
We hope this article provides clarity on your eligibility for maternity and sick pay. If you have any questions or need further assistance, feel free to reach out.
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