When do children break up for Christmas 2023? School term dates for holidays and 2024 return
IT can be hard for parents to keep track of the school term dates, which change from year to year.
Here's all you need to know about school dates for your child ahead of the new term in 2024.
What are the school term dates for 2024?
Term dates vary across the UK, so it's always a good idea to check with your child's school or have a look at the , which will redirect you to the relevant council website
Below are details of the school term dates across the UK for the next year.
England and Wales
For most schools in England and Wales, the school term times will be similar, if not the same.
However, there are sometimes term date differences between individual councils across the two nations, so it's important to check if you aren't sure.
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Information on the term dates in Wales can .
Here are the key term dates for 2024:
- Spring term: Monday, January 8 – Friday, March 12
- Summer term: Monday, April 15 – Wednesday, July 24
- Autumn term: Wednesday, October 4 – Friday, December 20
In November 2023 the Welsh government drew up plans to cut the summer holidays by a week, a move set to come into effect in summer 2026.
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Scotland
Term times are different in Scotland, at the summer holidays start and finish earlier than in the rest of the UK.
Details on term dates by council in Scotland can .
Although specific dates can vary, most Scottish schools will stick the the following schedule in 2024:
- Spring term: Tuesday, January 9 – Thursday, March 28
- Summer: Tuesday, April 16 – Friday, June 28
- Autumn: Wednesday, August 14 – Friday, December 20
Northern Ireland
Term dates differ in Northern Ireland also.
Here are the key dates every parent needs to know:
- Spring term: Wednesday, January 3 – Thursday, March 28
- Summer term: Monday, April 8 – Wednesday, June 31
Keep up to date on term dates and school holidays in Northern Ireland .
Across the UK, bank holidays can impact schooling, so it's worth keeping track of those, too.
There will also be school training days, where children will not go to school, so make sure you keep up with correspondence so details aren't missed.
Is it illegal to take your children on holiday during term time?
It may be cheaper to take your children out of school for holidays during term time, but parents can face heavy fines for doing so.
It is illegal to take children out of school during the school term and, according to the , ''you must make sure your child gets a full-time education that meets their needs".
Beyond risking heavy fines , offending parents may even face imprisonment.
The law states that, once a child is registered at a school, they must be sent to school on time every day.
In exceptional circumstances only is it possible to request to take a child out of school.
If the request is approved, how many days a child may be away from lessons is up to the headteacher.
Since the COVID-19 pandemic, school absences have skyrocketed, with nearly one in four children regularly off school.
Why is it more expensive to travel during school holidays?
Increases in holiday prices during school holidays is down to supply and demand.
More families hope to jet off during the peak school holiday periods, which places a huge demand on airlines and hotels, in turn causing the prices to surge, as parents are willing to pay the prices.
Holiday prices can go up by as much as £400 during these peak periods over the school holidays, according to research from Kayak.
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There have been calls for the government to force tour operators and airlines to lower their prices during the holidays, as people hope this will lead to fewer children being taken out of school.
Keeping on top of regional differences in term times can help you score the best holiday deal — see more information here.