School holidays look simple at first glance – two weeks off at Easter and Christmas, a week in February, May and October and six weeks off in the summer. Easy, right? Yet parents will know that it can be far trickier to navigate.
Terms and dates vary across the UK. There are also differences within council areas, with different types of schools setting their own holidays.
Read on for Bitesize’s guide to everything you need to know about the school holidays.
How many school holidays are there?
In England, local authority-maintained schools must open for at least 190 days (or 380 sessions) during a year. There are also another five days for staff training, known as 'inset days'. It’s also 190 days in Scotland and Wales.
Northern Ireland holiday dates are agreed every year by a group representing all school sectors but there can be variations. Schools must have 200 operational days per year, less five days for optional closures and training.
Most schools tend to follow the same pattern of holidays as a result. Independent private schools generally follow suit but have much longer breaks, for example two weeks at half-term instead of one.
School holidays usually follow this general pattern in the UK:
- Autumn half-term: 1 week in October
- Christmas: 2 weeks from late December to the start of January
- Spring half-term: 1 week in February
- Easter: 2 weeks in March or April, depending on when the Easter bank holidays fall
- Summer half-term: 1 week in May or June
- Summer holidays: 6 weeks from July to the start of September (in Scotland this is from June to August)
Where do you find school holiday dates?
If your school is maintained (funded by the local authority), you’ll find the dates on the council website but don’t just rely on this. Always check with the school your child goes to.
Your best port of call is the calendar of important dates and holidays on each school’s website. It will also have up to date information about upcoming inset days.
Why do some schools have different holidays?
Parents with kids at different schools will know this well! Even within the same areas, there can be subtle variations between holidays.
The government says term dates are determined by school employers. For maintained state schools that’s the local authority that funds them.
Other schools, including academies, free schools, foundation schools and voluntary-aided schools, have the flexibility to set their own term dates.
It can depend on many factors, including a school’s curriculum, religious traditions or history – simply put, often it’s the way they’ve always done it.
There could be more change ahead as some councils in England have switched to a two week break in October, with a shorter summer holiday. It is already in place in Nottinghamshire with Surrey following suit from 2026.
What is an 'inset day'?
Each school will set five inset days in the calendar for teacher training and development and they can be at any time of the year. It stands for “in-service training". This is an opportunity for teachers and other school staff to train as a whole school on areas like safeguarding, curriculum changes, new school policies and student behaviour.
Parents might also know them as Baker Days, named for Kenneth Baker. He was the Education Secretary who introduced them in 1988.
Are there any other days when schools are closed?
Bad weather can lead to the unexpected thrill (for the kids at least) of a bonus day off. This could be because conditions are too dangerous for pupils and staff to make the journey or heating systems have failed in cold weather.
Schools are responsible for informing parents if they need to close. Methods of communicating include the school website, social media and text messages. Many schools now use apps to update parents.
When it comes to bank holidays, most of these dates are already factored into the school holiday calendar.
What is the law on holidays during term time?
A holiday during term time is generally not considered an exceptional circumstance for kids taking time off.
Taking pupils out of school during term-time can be recorded as an unauthorised absence, so it’s important to discuss the situation with schools before booking a trip.
The Scottish Government says examples of when permission might be given include where a family needs time together to recover from distress or because of a parent’s job - for example if they are in the armed forces.
How much can you be fined for taking kids out of school?
England
In England, a new national framework in August 2024 raised first time fines from £60 to £80. According to the guidelines, schools must consider fines if a child misses five or more days unauthorised. This fine can increase to £160 if not paid within 21 days.
For continued unauthorised absences, (three or more absences within three years) or non-payment of the fine, other action like prosecution is considered. A court appearance could result in a fine of up to £2,500. The Department for Education (DfE) says money from fines goes to the local authority.
Scotland
In Scotland, education authorities can issue attendance orders for 5 to 16 year olds. They require the parent to ensure their child attends the school they have been going to or another local school. Under the Education (Scotland) Act 1980, if a parent has not complied with an attendance order, they could be prosecuted. If convicted, they can be fined up to £1,000, sent to prison for up to a month or both fined and imprisoned.
Wales
In Wales, fines for non-attendance are £60. This rises to £120 if it is paid after 28 days but within 42 days of receipt of the notice. Parents can be prosecuted if they do not pay the fine.
Northern Ireland
In Northern Ireland, children can be referred by their school to the EWS (Education Welfare Service) for absenteeism. It will arrange for an Education Welfare Officer (EWO) to visit their home.
The EWS can apply to the courts to fine parents of children who aren't attending school regularly. This can be up to £1,000 for each child who misses school.
A final reminder – check!
If in doubt, check with your child’s school. Especially when your teenager swears they have the whole of the next fortnight off…
This article was published in December 2025.
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