Redundancy and accepting a new job

[lizw]

Hi - I am a school secretary and have been informed my school is closing at the end of the summer term and I have been offered statutory redundancy.
My last pay date will be mid August and my contract runs out at the end of August however, we break up for summer on 13th July. My query is - can I accept a full time position from the 13th July or do I have to wait until my contract runs out at the end of August? Would I lose my (miniscule!) redundancy payout?
Many thanks

[Banali]

No you won't lose your payout.

Your contract ceases at the end of August, they chose not to provide you with work after mid July. Technically, they could ask you to work until your contract ends, but if the school's clsong it's highly unlikely that they would do that. So go for it.

[tamborine]

Ask your present employer.....or you could lose the redundancy.

[dot.haukes]

as long as you safeguard the continuity of your national insurance contributions you may be able to just take the new appointment, but you would be breaking the contract before them and so i bet they would avoid paying you any redundancy

[buildersmate]

I'm not sure I understand some of the above answers.
Firstly, the last pay date is not relevant - it is the date of the contract termination of the end of August that is key.
Secondly, you have a continuing contract until the end of August - the way the employer requires you to operate means that you do not require to attend at school after 13th July. So in theory you could do other work from then.
Thirdly, look in your terms to check that it is not a condition that you do not have another paid job without the permission of your employer - it is in some people's contracts. It is this term that might catch you out. If you cannot find such a term, I would be inclined to write to the employer as follows: -
Dear Mr Employer, as you know I am employed with you until 31st August when you are making me redundant. I cannot find any term that prevents me from taking a second job whilst in your employment and I propose to start a second job from xyz of July. Please confirm that this is acceptable to you. [or words to that effect - you get the drift]
Fourthly, I haven't a clue what Dot's point about NI is all about.

[lizw]

Many thanks as always to everbody who answered me. Really useful info.

Cheers