Family and work-life balance
Family Friendly Policies, Guidance and Provision
The University’s Family Friendly Policies are useful to those with caring responsibilities or those who are expecting to have a child / children. These include policies or information on family-related leave (shared parental, maternity, paternity, adoption, parental and emergency leave), flexible and part-time working and Keeping In Touch (KIT) days (whilst on shared parental, maternity or adoption or leave).
Keele Academic Returner's Scheme is a positive action for research-active women who are returning from maternity or adoption leave.
The University supports a safe environment for nursing mothers, and has baby changing facilities located centrally on campus within the ground floor chancellors building, and also at Keele Hall.
Private facilities are available for breast feeding or milk expressing in the following buildings:
- David Weatherall
- Chancellor's Building
- Lennard Jones
- Huxley Building
- Keele Day Nursery
Should you wish to use any of the above facilties then please contact the Reception for the area, the local EDI lead, or your HR link Advisor. In addition, people are welcome to breast feed their infants across the campus restaurants and cafes.
The University support students who are pregnant or require a leave of absence due to pregnancy and maternity. Students who are pregnant are advised to inform the Student Support Service who will be happy to offer all relevant support needed during the pregnancy. In additon support is provided for student parents.
For UKRI funded students (and their supervisors), research staff and fellows: UKRI Guidance on Maternity, Paternity and Adoption Leave and Pay can be found within the Grant Terms and Conditions.
The Equality Challenge Unit has also produced guidance on Student Pregnancy and Maternity Implications for Higher Education Institutions, which outlines best practice in supporting students that are pregnant.
The University has Keele Day Nursery (infants: 12 weeks - school age) and provision for School holiday Childcare (children: 4 - 12 years). If you would like childcare please contact the nursery at your earliest opportunity. Within the University campus, baby changing facilities can be found on the ground floor of Chancellors building, at the Chapel and also at Keele Hall.
The University has a number of forums, which are accessible with a Keele login ID, some of which are particularly useful for families e.g. the 'For Sale' list has a 'Children's Items' list. There is also a 'Wanted' list, an 'Accommodation' list and others that might be of use.
