• UK
  • World
    • USA
  • Entertainment
    • Celeb
    • Showbiz
    • Magazine
  • Politics
  • Sports
  • Gaming
  • Tech
  • Science
    • Education
  • Insurance
  • Business
  • Auto
  • ToS/Contact
    • ToS
    • Privacy Policy
    • Contact
NewsExplored
  • UK
  • World
    • USA
  • Entertainment
    • Celeb
    • Showbiz
    • Magazine
  • Politics
  • Sports
  • Gaming
  • Tech
  • Science
    • Education
  • Insurance
  • Business
  • Auto
  • ToS/Contact
    • ToS
    • Privacy Policy
    • Contact
  • Facebook

  • Twitter

  • LinkedIn

  • Tumblr

  • RSS

Education

Government rejection of maternity extension petition ‘a mockery’

Government rejection of maternity extension petition ‘a mockery’
Newsexplored
9th September 2020
ShareTweet
SubscribeRedditGoogleWhatsappStumbleuponPinterestDiggLinkedinTumblrTelegram
Views:
3
Related Topics

image captionKirsty Pearce said her son, Jake, has developed separation anxiety and doesn’t like anyone else to hold him

A mother who says her son developed separation anxiety due to coronavirus restrictions has called a government decision to reject proposals to extend maternity leave “a mockery”.

Small Business Minister Paul Scully said the three months increase was not necessary as current arrangements are “sufficiently generous”.

He was responding to House of Commons Petitions Committee recommendations.

Kirsty Pearce said the government “don’t care about pregnant women”.

Campaigners including Ms Pearce, from Harlow, Essex, say many new parents are facing mounting debts, childcare issues and mental health problems due to the coronavirus pandemic.

More than 270,000 people signed two separate petitions for parental leave to be extended by three months.

Currently, women can take a year’s maternity leave and receive statutory pay for 39 weeks.

The government said it had no plans to extend the leave, but a Petitions Committee report recommended it should be extended.

image captionThe Petitions Committee will now scrutinise the government’s decision on 6 October, but Kirsty Pearce said that will be too late for many mothers

In a written statement, Mr Scully has said the government was “still not persuaded that there is a need to extend entitlements to paid maternity leave”.

Learning support assistant Ms Pearce had been meant to return to work at a primary school in June.

data-ad-format="auto">

Instead she took unpaid leave to stay at home with her baby, Jake, as she was unable to find him a nursery place.

Social distancing put paid to hands-on support from family and friends, while baby groups and clinics closed their doors.

Ms Pearce said Jake developed separation anxiety as a result of not being able to socialise with anyone other than her.

She said the government’s decision feels “like discrimination against women during one of the most vulnerable times of their lives”.


“I really believe this can impact children for the future,” she added.

“You just feel the government really don’t care about pregnant women or those who have just had babies.

“The blanket no to each and every recommendation with a comment of ‘look at what we have done though’ is a mockery.

“Pregnant women and new parents have been abandoned by Boris Johnson.”

Mr Scully said the government “recognise the sensitive nature” of the petition,” but added: “We still believe the current arrangements for maternity leave and pay are sufficiently generous”.

Find BBC News: East of England on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. If you have a story suggestion email eastofenglandnews@bbc.co.uk

Related Topics

More on this story

Share this:

  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Google+ (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)
  • Share on Skype (Opens in new window)

Related

Related Itemsextensiongovernmentmaternitymockerypetitionrejection
Education
9th September 2020
Newsexplored @newsexploredweb

Related Itemsextensiongovernmentmaternitymockerypetitionrejection

More in Education

  • Read More
    What’s the science behind closing schools?

    Views:3 By Will FyfeBBC News media captionDr Heather Payne says school drop off and pick-ups created “social...

    Newsexplored 9th September 2020
  • Read More
    Cancelled exams are a ‘big disappointment’

    Views:3 image captionJake did not want exams to be cancelled “It’s a big disappointment,” says 17-year-old Jake...

    Newsexplored 9th September 2020
  • Read More
    Hawaiian shirts and gravy: Christmas tributes for loved ones lost to Covid

    Views:3 Christmas is different for everyone this year but especially for the thousands of UK families who...

    Newsexplored 9th September 2020
  • Read More
    England ‘significant decline’ in global science tests

    Views:3 By Sean CoughlanBBC News family and education correspondent image copyrightTIMSS image captionThe maths and science tests...

    Newsexplored 9th September 2020
  • Read More
    Covid: Some students not back until February next term

    Views:3 By Sean CoughlanBBC News family and education correspondent image copyrightReuters image captionStudents have been taking Covid...

    Newsexplored 9th September 2020
  • Read More
    Covid: How might GCSE and A-levels work this summer?

    Views:3 By Branwen JeffreysEducation Editor image copyrightGetty Images A-levels and GCSEs in England are due to go...

    Newsexplored 9th September 2020
  • Read More
    Special educational needs support ‘offered after exclusion’

    Views:3 By Kayleen DevlinBBC Ouch image copyrightEmily image captionEmily says she feels let down by the system...

    Newsexplored 9th September 2020
  • Read More
    Free school meals: Authors urge government action to stop child hunger

    Views:3 media captionMarcus Rashford and his mother Melanie helped out at FareShare Greater Manchester. More than 200...

    Newsexplored 9th September 2020
  • Read More
    Covid: Student anger over ‘junk’ food parcels in isolation

    Views:3 Image caption A student isolating in Nottingham was given bread, jam and an apple for breakfast...

    Newsexplored 9th September 2020
  • Read More
    Next year’s exams to start later in Northern Ireland

    Views:3 Image copyright Pacemaker Image caption Exams this year were cancelled due to the pandemic A-level, AS...

    Newsexplored 9th September 2020
  • Read More
    Let depressed teens postpone exams, say researchers

    Views:3 Image copyright Getty Images Teenagers who struggle with depression significantly underachieve at GCSE, according to new...

    Newsexplored 9th September 2020
  • Read More
    ‘Cities as friendly to strangers as towns and villages’

    Views:3 Image copyright Danny Lawson Image caption People in Nottingham were the most likely to step forward...

    Newsexplored 9th September 2020
Scroll for more
Tap
data-ad-format="auto">
NewsExplored

NewsExplored - Making sure all the latest news is explored?

Contact us for help

  • Popular

  • Latest

  • Comments

  • Australian Open: Heather Watson among 47 players to quarantine in Melbourne after Covid cases on flights
    Sports16th January 2021
  • The Papers: ‘Fortress Britain’ and ‘modern miracle workers’
    UK15th January 2021
  • Fashion lookahead: Eight major 2021 looks from tie-dye to pastels
    Entertainment30th December 2020
  • Fifa 21 and Frozen 2 top digital sales of 2020
    Tech8th January 2021
  • Tampa Bay Buccaneers 31-26 Green Bay Packers; Buffalo Bills 24-38 Kansas City Chiefs
    USA25th January 2021
  • The homeless drug addict who became a history professor
    USA24th January 2021
  • Kamala Harris: What the vice-president did on her first day
    USA21st January 2021
  • Biden inauguration: New president to be sworn in amid Trump snub
    USA20th January 2021
  • Les Rehrer says:

    Hello Its me :P and thanks for this post

  • optumrx login says:

    Thank For News.

  • Kent Laatsch says:

    Please let me know if you're looking for a writer…

  • Bob says:

    RT News was where I learned that Erdogan controlled isis.…

Copyright © 2018 Top News Theme. Theme by MVP Themes, powered by Wordpress.

Cambridge University to offer weekly Covid tests to students
Coronavirus: No student parties and more online learning
We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it.Ok