Parental leave may be taken in a continuous period of 26 weeks.  There is a statutory entitlement to take the 26 weeks in separate blocks of a minimum of 6 continuous weeks.

Alternatively, subject to the agreement of your employer, parental leave may be taken in reduced hours.

If the leave is to be taken in separate blocks or in reduced hours the total number of hours leave to which you are entitled is determined by the number of hours worked by you during a particular period of 26 continuous weeks (there are two ways of calculating the entitlement - one where you and your employer agree on a reference period and the other where a reference period cannot be agreed).