Do I have a right to part-time work after several years of working reduced hours?

If your hours changed after a formal request for flexible working, this would have been a permanent change to your contract of employment. Even if they changed after an informal request, unless there was an express agreement that the reduced hours would be temporary (and in my view, for a particular period), this would be a permanent change. Certainly, after four years, one would expect that to be a permanent change unless there was an agreed temporary period.

You have the right to return to your existing role after maternity leave or to a suitable alternative role on the same terms and conditions if that is not reasonably practicable for your employer. Any alternative role should be with the same hours.

It is not clear why the school say that reduced hours “doesn’t work for them” any more. What has changed?

I suggest making a formal request for flexible working whilst stressing that your request is in effect to work your existing contractual hours. Address any concerns the school has about the reduced hours “not working” for them. Ultimately, if they refuse to have you back, you might have claims for unfair or constructive dismissal, maternity discrimination (around the refusal to offer you your old terms back) and indirect sex discrimination as well as under the flexible working legislation.

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