One of the main aims of the Work and Families Act 2006 was to encourage both parents to assume childcare responsibilities in the first year of a child鈥檚 life. As part of this aim, the Government proposed a new statutory right to additional paternity leave, allowing fathers to take up to 26 weeks鈥� leave (some of which will be paid) if the mother returns to work after six months but before the end of her maternity leave.