Do Uk Schools Have Summer Break
Schools are coming to an end and summer break is approaching. For students, this means frequent visits to the beach, fun-filled festivals and a lot more that can be done on the beautiful sunny beaches of England. For parents, however, it means increased worries about their kids traveling back and forth during the vacations. As the summer approaches, here are some tips and tricks from MyBus that parents should know before their kids return from school.Summer break is a glorious time of year for students, but it can be nerve-wracking for parents. You want to know your kids are staying safe, experiencing new things and having fun, while not breaking the bank.
Most secondary schools in the United Kingdom, in fact most schools in general, have a summer vacation. This is normally two to three weeks long at the end of June or beginning July depending on where you live.The UK has a different school system from the US, but are their breaks the same? I’ve had a few people ask me if there is summer break in the UK or if there is another holiday for students when the American students have spring break. Press Tab to write more…
Here is a list of school holidays in the UK in 2020 and 2021 plus information on different holiday childcare options for working parents.
Do Uk Schools Have Summer Break
School holidays in the UK vary both between UK countries and between the regional local authorities. If you are a parent living in the UK, check with your child’s school or with your local authority so that you know the exact dates to make plans. UK school calendars are split into three terms, with most schools having additional half-term breaks in the middle of each term meaning that children generally get six breaks per school year.
This guide will cover:
- School holidays in the UK
- UK school holiday dates in 2020–2021
- UK school holiday dates in 2021–2022
- Additional holidays and days off
- Childcare during school holidays in the UK
Disney+
Looking for something to watch with the whole family during the holidays? Disney+ brings together great TV shows and movies in one easy-to-use on-demand subscription service. From Homer Simpson to Han Solo, you’ll find all your favorite characters on Disney+. Sign up today and get the popcorn ready!
School holidays in the UK
School holidays in the UK are set by the regional local authorities (also called local councils), who publish term dates on their websites. Schools in England and Wales usually have two-week holidays for Christmas and Easter, a break of around six weeks for summer, and week-long breaks halfway through each of the three terms. Scottish schools have the same number of breaks, with the half-term breaks often shorter or longer (ranging from a long weekend to two weeks). Schools in Northern Ireland have five annual holidays. They have shorter half-term breaks and miss out the mid-term break in the summer term, but usually have an extra two weeks off during the summer.
In general, families in the UK spend school holiday time getting together to celebrate festive holidays such as Christmas in the UK, going on family vacations or day trips in the UK, or planning activities for kids. School holidays may also coincide with important UK festivals.
Advertisement
UK school holiday dates in 2020–2021
School holidays in England
- Autumn break: 26 October – 30 October 2020
- Christmas break: 21 December – 1 January 2021
- February break: 15 February – 19 February 2021
- Easter break: 2nd April – 16 April 2021
- May break: 31 May – 4 June 2021
- Summer break: 23 July – 1 September 2021
Dates might vary from council to council – check with your school.
School holidays in Wales
- Autumn break: 26 October – 1 November 2020
- Christmas break: 19 December 2020 – 3 January 2021
- February break: one week between 15–28 February 2021
- Easter break: 29 March – 11 April 2021
- May break: 31 May – 6 June 2021
- Summer break: 20 July – 31 August 2021
School holidays in Scotland
- Autumn break: 1–2 weeks between 5–27 October 2020
- Christmas break: two weeks between 21 December 2020 – 6 January 2021
- February break: one day to one week between 5–22 February 2021
- Spring break: two weeks between 29 March – 19 April 2021
- May break: up to one week between 30 April – 14 May (if applicable in your region – some have this holiday at end of May)
- Summer break: six weeks between 28 June – 18 August 2021
School holidays in Northern Ireland
- Autumn break: 26 October – 1 November 2020
- Christmas break: 22 December 2020 – 2 January 2021
- Easter break: 1–9 April 2021
- Summer break: 1 July – 28 August 2021
Advertisement
UK school holiday dates in 2021–2022
School holidays in England
- Autumn break: 25 – 29 October 2021
- Christmas break: 24 December 2021 – 7 January 2022
- February break: 21 February – 25 February 2022
- Easter break: 11 April – 22nd April 2022
- May break: 30 May – 3 June 2022
- Summer break: 25 July – 31 August 2022
Dates might vary from council to council – check with your school.
School holidays in Wales
- Autumn break: 25 October – 29 October 2021
- Christmas break: 20 December 2021 – 3rd January 2022
- February break: 21 February – 25 February 2022
- Easter break: 11 April – 22 April 2022
- May break: 25–29 May 2022
- Summer break: 25 July – 2 September 2022
School holidays in Scotland
- Autumn half term holidays (where applicable): two days between 13 – 27 September 2021
- Autumn holidays: one to two weeks between 4 October – 29 October 2021
- Winter half term holidays (where applicable): two to five days between 1 November – 29 November 2021
- Christmas break: two weeks between 22 December 2021 – 10 January 2022
- February break: one day to one week between 4 February – 28 February 2022
- Spring break: two weeks between 4 April – 22 April 2022
- May break (where applicable): one to four days between 29 April – 30 May 2022
- Summer break: six to seven weeks between 23 June – 22 August 2022
School holidays in Northern Ireland
- Autumn break: 28 October – 29 October 2021
- Christmas break: 23 December 2021 – 3 January 2022
- Mid-term: 17 February – 18 February 2022
- Easter break: 14 April – 22 April 2022
- Summer break: 1 July 2022 –
Additional holidays and days off
Schools in the UK also close for a number of public holidays and bank holidays throughout the year. Some of these apply to all four countries, while each country also has its own holiday dates. See our guide to public holidays in the UK for full details. Each school may also have additional dates off for staff training or pupil book days and may grant days off for pupils of certain faiths to observe religious holidays. In general, you can find out details of school-specific days off from your local school or by visiting the school website. Meanwhile, many primary and secondary schools in the UK publish calendars online to keep parents and students informed.
Advertisement
Childcare during school holidays in the UK
If you are a working parent during school holidays in the UK, you may need to look into childcare provision if you don’t have relatives or friends to keep an eye on the kids. Most parts of the UK will have holiday schemes or a program of activities for various age groups, although public out-of-hours provision for both primary and secondary school children has been cut back over the last decade.
Provision varies across regions. The best place to start is by asking your school what is going on in your area, because most schools can provide information on clubs, holiday camps, or other activities – some providers also run holiday activities out-of-hours.
Each council should have a Family Information Service that can tell you what’s available locally, a Youth Service that will normally run holiday activity programs, and a network of Children’s Centers that may have activities for primary school children. Councils can often also provide information on what privately run provision is available in your area. You can also find details of all local councils in England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland from the British government.
There are other useful resources regarding childcare during school holidays, such as:
- Childcare.co.uk, which allows you to search for childcare options in your area;
- The Family and Childcare Trust, where you can also search for childcare services and find out information on help with costs;
- Yell, where you can search for privately-run facilities such as summer camps and summer schools in different regions.
For information on other childcare options such as childminders, nannies, au pairs, and babysitters, see our guide to childcare in the UK.