Maternity leave

So I’m just wondering those of you who are in the UK, how long did you take for maternity leave? And what helped you make your decision?

I’m a primary school teacher and I’m due in March, we cant really afford for me to take the whole year off but could maybe stretch it to go back after Christmas.

I’m just unsure as spring term is a really awkward time to go back, and we’d be very tight for money over baby’s first Christmas...

Would it be too early to go back after summer for the start of the autumn term? I don’t really know just looking for someone to bounce ideas off as I really can’t decide😂🤦🏼‍♀️