Term dates for schools
Parents and carers have a legal obligation to make sure their children attend school regularly. You can only take a child out of school when there are exceptional circumstances. You do not have the right to take children on holiday in term time and may be fined if you do.
These term dates are for guidance only.
Some schools set their own term dates or agree minor local variations so you should also consult your school's own website for their individual school dates.
School term dates 2026/2027
Autumn term 2026 - open 74 days
Autumn term 2026 – open 74 days
| Status | Date |
|---|
| Open |
01 September 2026 to 23 October 2026 (39 days) |
| Half term |
26 October 2026 to 30 October 2026 |
| Open |
02 November 2026 to 18 December 2026 (35 days) |
| Christmas Holiday |
21 December 2026 to 01 January 2027 (Inclusive of Bank Holidays) |
Spring term 2027 - open 54 days
Spring term 2027 – open 54 days
| Status | Date |
|---|
| Open |
04 January 2027 to 12 February 2027 (30 days) |
| Half term |
15 February 2027 to 19 February 2027 |
| Open |
22 February 2027 to 25 March 2027 (24 days) |
| Spring break |
26 March 2027 to 9 April 2027 |
Summer term 2027 - open 67 days
Summer term 2027 – open 67 days
| Status | Date |
|---|
| Open |
12 April 2027 to 28 May 2027 (34 days) (except May Day bank holiday on 03 May 2027) |
| Half term |
31 May 2027 to 04 June 2027 (spring bank holiday on 31 May 2027) |
| Open |
07 June 2027 to 21 July 2027 (33 days) |
| Summer holiday |
22 July 2027 |
School term dates 2027/2028
Autumn term 2027 - open 73 days
Autumn term 2026 – open 74 days
| Status | Date |
|---|
| Open |
01 September 2027 to 22 October 2027 (38 days) |
| Half term |
25 October 2027 to 29 October 2027 |
| Open |
01 November 2027 to 17 December 2027 (35 days) |
| Christmas Holiday |
20 December 2027 to 03 January 2028 (Inclusive of Bank Holidays) |
Spring term 2028 - open 59 days
Spring term 2027 – open 54 days
| Status | Date |
|---|
| Open |
04 January 2028 to 11 February 2028 (29 days) |
| Half term |
14 February 2028 to 18 February 2028 |
| Open |
21 February 2028 to 31 March 2028 (30 days) |
| Spring break |
3 April 2028 to 17 April 2028 (Bank holiday on 17 April 2028) |
Summer term 2028 - open 63 days
Summer term 2027 – open 67 days
| Status | Date |
|---|
| Open |
18 April 2028 to 26 May 2028 (28 days) (Bank holiday on 01 May 2028) |
| Half term |
29 May 2028 to 02 June 2028 (Bank holiday on 29 May 2028) |
| Open |
05 June 2028 to 21 July 2028 (35 days) |
| Summer holiday |
24 July 2028 |
School term dates 2028/2029
Autumn term 2028 - open 75 days
Autumn term 2026 – open 74 days
| Status | Date |
|---|
| Open |
04 September 2028 to 27 October 2028 (40 days) |
| Half term |
30 October 2028 to 03 November 2028 |
| Open |
06 November 2028 to 22 December 2028 (35 days) |
| Christmas Holiday |
25 December 2028 to 05 January 2029 |
Spring term 2029 - open 54 days
Spring term 2027 – open 54 days
| Status | Date |
|---|
| Open |
08 January 2029 to 16 February 2029 (30 days) |
| Half term |
19 February 2029 to 23 February 2029 |
| Open |
26 February 2029 to 29 March 2029 (24 days) |
| Spring break |
30 March 2029 to 13 April 2029 |
Summer term 2029 - open 66 days
Summer term 2027 – open 67 days
| Status | Date |
|---|
| Open |
16 April 2029 to 25 May 2029 (29 days)
(Bank holiday on 07 May 2029) |
| Half term |
28 May 2029 to 04 June 2029
(Bank holiday on 28 May 2029) |
| Open |
04 June 2029 to 24 July 2029 (37 days) |
| Summer holiday |
25 July 2029
Recommend Monday 23 July and Tuesday 24 July to be INSET days. |
Setting term dates for Cheshire East schools
The Local Authority is responsible for setting dates for community and controlled schools, which are recommended for adoption by voluntary-aided, foundation, academies and free schools. Clusters of schools may agree minor local variations with the Local Authority.
In academies and free schools the duty lies with the governing board, or with the trust, depending on their agreements on delegation of responsibilities.
In all cases it is expected the best interests of children/ students will be the key consideration in setting term dates. Primary and secondary headteachers are expected to consult and agree the most appropriate pattern for their shared learning community.
Term dates will be set and published on the school website at least two school years in advance.
Principles for setting term dates in Cheshire East
-
Where possible all terms to start on a Monday (or a Tuesday if so necessitated by a Bank Holiday).
-
Autumn half term will be the full week prior to the first Tuesday in November
-
Spring half term will be the third full week in February unless Easter is early, in which case the middle week of the spring term is selected
-
Easter will be incorporated into the holidays, keeping the holiday period as close to the first two weeks of April as possible, therefore, Easter will be at the start, middle or end of the two-week break
-
The Whitsun half term break will be one week, unless, in the case of primary schools, the Governing Board agrees an additional week; in such cases the summer term will end one week later than for other schools
-
Where a school is open for part of a week to pupils, this will be for a minimum of three school days (to encourage attendance)
-
The five “INSET” days are all to be designated by the individual Governing Board, but there will be no more than two days set consecutively for this purpose.
Required number of days
There is a requirement for all maintained schools to be open for the teaching of pupils/students for 380 sessions (or 190 days) each school year. Academies and free schools have the freedom if they so choose to extend their sessions for pupils beyond this.
Page last reviewed: 27 July 2026
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