Shared Parental Leave Notification Letter: Free Template and What to Include

If you need to notify your employer of your intention to take shared parental leave, a written letter is the recommended first step — it creates a clear record and shows you're pursuing the matter formally. Below is what a strong shared parental leave notification should include.

What this letter needs to cover

• Confirm the partner has curtailed maternity leave
• State the SPL dates being requested
• Confirm entitlement to Shared Parental Pay at the statutory rate for eligible weeks
• Request confirmation within 14 days

How Shared Parental Leave notification works

Shared Parental Leave allows eligible parents to split up to 50 weeks of leave and 37 weeks of pay between them — but the notification process is more involved than standard maternity or paternity leave, requiring both parents to provide specific declarations and a notice of entitlement before leave can begin.

What to include before you send it

• Confirmation of your eligibility and your partner's eligibility
• The total leave you intend to take and proposed dates
• Confirmation of how much maternity or adoption leave has been or will be curtailed to allow for shared leave
• A booking notice for each specific period of leave, given at least 8 weeks in advance

Why the process has more steps than standard maternity leave

Because Shared Parental Leave involves coordinating entitlement between two parents (and their two separate employers), the notification process requires more detailed declarations upfront — getting this right from the start avoids confusion or disputes about entitlement later in the process.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can leave be taken in separate blocks rather than one continuous period?
Yes — Shared Parental Leave can be taken in up to three separate blocks per parent, offering more flexibility than traditional maternity leave.

What if my partner is self-employed?
Different eligibility rules can apply — it's worth checking the specific eligibility criteria for a self-employed partner before finalising your Shared Parental Leave plans.

[Your Name]
[Your Address]
[Your Postcode]
[Your Phone Number]
[Your Email Address]
[Name of Manager / HR]
[Company Name]
[Company Address]
[Company Postcode]
[Date]

Dear [Name],

Subject: Shared Parental Leave – notice of entitlement and booking

I am giving notice that I intend to take Shared Parental Leave under the Shared Parental Leave Regulations 2014.

• Child's other parent: [Name]
• Expected week of childbirth / date of birth: [Date]
• [The mother / I] [has given / have given] notice to curtail maternity leave, which will end on [Date].
• Total Shared Parental Leave available: [number] weeks (up to 50)
• Weeks I intend to take: [number]
• Weeks my partner intends to take: [number]

I am booking this leave [choose: as one continuous period / as separate periods]:
• Period 1: [Start Date] to [End Date]
• [Period 2: [Start Date] to [End Date]]

I am giving at least 8 weeks' notice before the leave starts. I understand Shared Parental Pay is paid at the statutory rate, or 90% of my average weekly earnings if lower, for eligible weeks.

I enclose signed declarations from me and my partner confirming that we are eligible and agree how the leave is shared.

Please confirm within 14 days.

Yours sincerely,

[Your Signature]
[Your Printed Name]