SPS - Schools Personnel Sevice

- For both Teaching and Kent Scheme Staff, 8% of non-recoverable Statutory Maternity/Adoption Pay (SMP/SAP), plus 100% of related on costs. Please note that 92% of the remaining SMP/SAP is recoverable from HM Revenue and Customs, and this will be claimed on your behalf, by your Payroll Provider.

- Additionally, for Teaching Staff only, 10% of full pay for the first four weeks of Maternity Leave, plus related on costs.

- Subject to eligibility, Half Pay plus on costs may also be claimed for both Teaching and Kent Scheme Staff.

Please submit a claim form (EX1) at the beginning of the maternity absence period with all the fields completed. The "Dates Absent From" on the EX1 form, will be the start of the maternity leave period. Please leave the "Date Absent To" blank. We also need to know whether the individual has planned to return, so please indicate whether they 'Will' or 'May' return, as this will determine whether the employee is eligible for half pay. Could we also ask schools preparing their own payroll, to submit copies of the MATB1.

We will then calculate the expected maternity claim and pay 9 equal, estimated, instalments to you, one per month.

When the individual returns from maternity leave, please submit another EX1 claim form with all supporting evidence from your payroll but this time the "Dates Absent From" will be the date that the individual returned to work.

We will then reconcile the actual amount due to you and pay (or claim) the difference between this and the estimated payments already made. Please don't forget to save the payroll evidence over the period of absence to save a big job at the end of the claim period. Please also note that payment is calculated on the total salary figure including on-costs, so it is this figure that you must put on the claim forms and not just the basic salary.

Half Pay:- For those who have initially indicated they 'will' return to work, but decide not to, or return to work but do not complete 13 weeks service (or equivalent), they will be required to repay the contractual half pay that has been paid during the maternity pay period. In this case, any costs previously reimbursed to the school under Excepted Items will need to be repaid to KCC.  Please indicate on EX1 form before submitting for final reconciliation if the individual should not have been entitled to half pay.

Where 'May' return to work following maternity leave has been indicated, contractual half pay has been withheld. This contractual payment will be paid as a lump sum once they return to work and complete 13 weeks service (or equivalent). Employer's costs for this will be reimbursed to the school under Excepted Items, and can be claimed by attaching relevant payroll evidence to a Form EX1, for submission to the Excepted Items Team.

Please note that payment of Half Pay is determined by the completion of 13 weeks from return from Maternity Leave, for Kent Scheme Staff, regardless of contractual hours. Please note that, for Teachers who return to work with a variation to contractual hours, the 13 weeks service must equate to 13 weeks full or part time service under their previous contract of employment.

You will need to ensure the appropriate completion date is diarised, once the employee has returned to work, and must notify both the payroll provider and the Excepted Items Team, should the above scenarios occur.

 

 

Kent Scheme staff (subject to terms and conditions) will be entitled to up to 2 weeks paid paternity leave. This will include Statutory Paternity Pay, and the balance may be claimed through Excepted Items, together with Oncosts. Please note this entitlement has been introduced as a 'Pilot Scheme' and may be withdrawn at any time. All other terms relating to Paternity claims remain unchanged, including the 8% of non-recoverable Statutory Paternity Pay, which remains ineligible for Excepted Items.

Paternity pay for Teachers, over and above Statutory Paternity Pay, may be paid at the school's discretion, although this will be funded directly by the school.

 

 

 

Witness Claims
The same conditions apply to those of Jury Service.

 

 

1) Councillors, JP's, Chair of School Governors. The cost of cover is paid, for 18 days in any 12 months. Cover evidence will need to be provided and this may be an invoice from a supply agency, or from the existing payroll. The amount claimed, should be clearly shown, as the total figure might include other duties. VAT is not reimbursed.

2) Service in non-regular forces (T.A.) Salary cost is paid for up to 2 consecutive weeks in any 12 months.

3) Candidates in a Parliamentary or European election. Salary cost for up to 4 weeks in any 12 months.

Please use claim form (EX1).

 

 

Suspensions are reimbursable up to a period of 30 working days. Please submit final claims (including evidence of 'cost of cover') immediately after completion. Where cover has been sourced externally, this would, typically, be invoices from Supply Agencies. Please settle invoices directly and submit copies to SPS, for reimbursement.

Where cover is provided internally, this may involve more than one employee. Please submit appropriate payroll evidence, together with time sheets, for each employee who has provided cover.

In exceptional circumstances, SPS can authorise reimbursement for longer periods of suspension. In this instance please submit claims on a regular monthly basis until the end of the authorised period.

Please download our Suspensions Guidance and Process for more details on the policy and a flow chart explaining the process in full.

Please use claim form (EX1).

 

 

The scheme will cover reimbursement for RCP materials and job adverts. Please submit copies of invoices together with the form EX1.