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October half term 2026: the dates, and how not to be caught out
Debs · 7 October 2026
The short answer
For most schools in England, October half term 2026 is Monday 26 October to Friday 30 October, and Welsh councils use the same week. Scottish councils set their own October holiday, usually earlier in the month, and Northern Ireland's schools have a shorter Halloween break around the end of October. Academies and other schools that set their own dates can differ, and INSET days often add a day either side, so always check your own school's dates.
October half term has a talent for arriving while you're still recovering from September. One minute you're writing names in jumpers; the next it's a week off, the clocks go back the Sunday before, Halloween is the Saturday at the end, and you have five days of childcare to find. Here are the 2026 dates, and the checks that stop half term sneaking up on you.
When is October half term 2026?
Councils publish dates for the schools they run, and many academies follow them, but not all. These are the usual dates for 2026; your school's own website has the final word.
- England: Monday 26 to Friday 30 October 2026, for most councils.
- Wales: Monday 26 to Friday 30 October 2026.
- Scotland: each council sets its own October holiday, usually earlier in October than England's.
- Northern Ireland: a shorter Halloween break around the end of October, with dates set by each school.
The clocks go back on the Sunday, half term starts on the Monday, and Halloween is the Saturday after. October is not messing about.
Left: the usual half term week for 2026. Right: Halloween falls on the Saturday at the end of it, and the clocks go back on Sunday 25 October, the day before it starts.
Why your school's dates might be different
Councils set term dates for community and voluntary controlled schools. Academies, free schools, foundation schools and voluntary aided schools (often church schools) can set their own, and some do, occasionally by a whole week. A few councils have also moved to a longer autumn break, so check the dates for your area rather than a national list.
Then there are INSET days. Schools choose their own training days, and a favourite place to put one is the Friday before half term or the Monday after, which turns a one-week break into a long one. They're often only mentioned in a newsletter. Our guide to INSET days explains how they work.
The INSET day before half term: the school's gift to parents who thought they had one more day.
How to get ready for half term
Check your own school's dates now, on its website or in the last newsletter, including any INSET days either side. Put them in a calendar the whole family can see (here's how to add school term dates to Google or Apple Calendar). Book holiday clubs early, because the good ones fill weeks ahead. Ask now about the Halloween disco costume and any non-uniform day before the break. And note when school starts again: for most of England and Wales, that's Monday 2 November, so the PE kit wants washing by Sunday night.
October half term 2026 at a glance
The usual dates in each nation. Your school's own dates come first.
| Usual dates | Who sets them | |
|---|---|---|
| England | Monday 26 to Friday 30 October | The council, or the school if it sets its own (such as an academy) |
| Wales | Monday 26 to Friday 30 October | The council |
| Scotland | Varies by council, usually earlier in October | Each council |
| Northern Ireland | A shorter Halloween break, end of October | Each school |
Mistakes we've all made
- Checking the council's dates when your child's school is an academy with its own.
- Forgetting the INSET day on the Friday before, and finding out at the school gate.
- Booking the holiday club for one child's half term when the other is at a different school with different dates.
- Remembering the Halloween costume the night before the disco.
Half term, already on the calendar
Debs, your own school admin assistant, reads your school's own website for its term dates and INSET days and checks it every week for changes, so half term is on the family calendar before you've thought about it. It reads the school's emails too, so the Halloween disco, the non-uniform day and the "bring a pumpkin" letter go on as well. Ask Debs "when's half term?" and she'll tell you, for each child, even if they're at different schools. See everything Debs can do.
Questions parents ask
When is October half term 2026 in England?
For most councils in England, October half term 2026 is Monday 26 October to Friday 30 October. Academies and other schools that set their own dates may differ, so check your school's website.
When is October half term 2026 in Wales?
Welsh councils have October half term 2026 from Monday 26 October to Friday 30 October. Check your school's website for any INSET days either side.
When are the October holidays in Scotland in 2026?
Each Scottish council sets its own October holiday, and most fall earlier in October than England's half term. Check your council's or school's website for the exact week.
Is October half term the same for every school?
No. Councils set dates for the schools they run, but academies and some other schools set their own, and each school chooses its own INSET days, which can add a day either side.
When do the clocks go back in 2026?
The clocks go back one hour at 2am on Sunday 25 October 2026, the day before most schools in England and Wales start half term.