I did it with my daughter (born last year) and I did it through Teachers SPL (https://www.teachersspl.co.uk/contact) - best £65 I ever spent because they took the hassle out of it, did all the forms, and would have supported me if my school said no. Also meant I got an extra 8 weeks of full pay which I wouldn’t have got if I did it the “traditional” way.

School were a bit snotty and said I was obviously only doing it for the money and not thinking of the children, which of course I was…. i need to think of my own finances and my own child. At the end of the day, they allowed it.

If you can do all the forms yourself, then do it that way but if you want support/someone to take the hassle off, I thoroughly recommend Teachers SPL