Leave HackerGuidesPlan my yearHow do working parents cover the school holidays?
58 working days of school holidays
On the typical pattern, England's school holidays in 2027 cover 58 working days (bank holidays already taken off). One parent with 25 days' leave covers about 43% of that; two parents taking different weeks cover 86%. The rest is holiday clubs, family and a few shared days off.
The typical 2027 school holidays (England)
| Holiday | Typical dates | Working days |
|---|---|---|
| February half term | Sat 13 Feb to Sun 21 Feb | 5 |
| Easter holidays | Sat 20 Mar to Sun 4 Apr | 8 |
| May half term | Sat 29 May to Sun 6 Jun | 4 |
| Summer holidays | Thu 22 Jul to Tue 31 Aug | 28 |
| October half term | Sat 23 Oct to Sun 31 Oct | 5 |
| Christmas holidays | Sat 18 Dec to Sun 2 Jan | 8 |
| Total | 58 |
The usual pattern, not your council's dates: councils and academies set their own, so check yours before you book. School holidays by council has 106 councils' own dates with the days to book around each holiday; for the rest, find your council on gov.uk. By the same pattern: England and Wales 58, Scotland 59, Northern Ireland 68 working days.
Split the weeks
- Tag-team. Two parents taking different weeks cover twice the time; one week together is the family holiday.
- Use the bank holidays. Easter's Good Friday and Easter Monday, and in England the spring bank holiday at the start of May half term, are school holiday days that cost no leave.
- Short weeks first. Half terms are five working days; a parent each is a simple split.
- Ask first. Every parent at work wants the same weeks, so put your requests in as soon as your leave year opens. When to ask for each 2027 break.
Let the planner do it
Tell the Leave Hacker planner you have children at school and it plans your breaks inside the school holidays, around the bank holidays, for England and Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland. Plan around the school holidays.
Sources
- gov.uk: School term and holiday dates (find your council)
- gov.uk: School attendance and absence (England)
- gov.uk: Time off for dependants
Checked on 26 October 2026. This is general information about the legal minimum in the UK, not legal advice: your contract can give you more, and can set its own rules for notice and carrying over. For help with your own situation, call the Acas helpline on 0300 123 1100 (England, Scotland and Wales) or the Labour Relations Agency on 03300 555 300 (Northern Ireland).
More questions
Can I take my child on holiday during term time?
In England, usually not without the head teacher's permission, and you can be fined. Term-time holidays and fines.
Do I have a right to time off when my child is ill?
Employees have a right to reasonable unpaid time off to deal with an emergency involving a dependant, such as arranging care when a child falls ill. It's separate from annual leave.