Statutory maternity leave is 52 weeks. You don’t have to take 52 weeks off work, but you cannot return until at least 2 weeks after the baby is born (4 weeks if you work in a factory).
Maternity leave can officially begin 11 weeks prior to your baby’s due date, but it begins automatically when you give birth or if you have a pregnancy-related illness in the 4 weeks prior to the due date. You must tell your employer when you want your maternity to begin no later than 15 weeks before your due date.