For parents of babies born before 6 April, fathers or partners are only able to take one continuous block of paternity leave of one or two weeks within the first eight weeks after birth.

Under the amended legislation, the notice period required for each period of leave has been shortened to 28 days, or four weeks, instead of 15 weeks before the expected week of childbirth.

The changes were announced by the government in June 2023, when it published its response to a consultation on parental leave and pay .

The regulations come into force 8 March 202 to allow parents of children born or adopted on or after 6 April to give the required 28 days’ notice.