TEACHERS and support workers should get the same 26 weeks’ paid maternity leave as civil servants, the National Education Union’s (NEU) annual conference moved yesterday.

Delegates said that the current four weeks offered to educators is exacerbating the teacher recruitment and retention crisis, with women in their 30s making up the largest demographic cohort within the sector.

Conference moved to call on the government to introduce a statutory mandatory maternity pay of 26 weeks on full pay.