Leave HackerGuidesPlan my yearDorset school holidays 2026/27 and 2027/28
Dorset's school holidays and term dates for 2026/27 and 2027/28, from Dorset Council. Dorset schools break up for Christmas on Friday 18 December 2026 and go back on Monday 4 January. For a parent, the best value is Christmas 2026: book 3 days, get 10 off (Fri 25 Dec 2026 to Sun 3 Jan 2027). The summer holidays start on Thursday 22 July 2027.
Dorset school holidays 2026/27
| Holiday | Off, weekends included | Leave to cover it |
|---|---|---|
| October half termone week | 24 Oct to 1 Novback Mon 2 Nov | 5 days → 9 off |
| Christmas holidaystwo weeks | 19 Dec to 3 Janback Mon 4 Jan | 7 days → 16 off |
| February half termone week | 13 to 21 Febback Mon 22 Feb | 5 days → 9 off |
| Easter holidaystwo weeks and 1 day | 26 Mar to 11 Aprback Mon 12 Apr | 9 days → 17 off |
| May half termone week | 29 May to 6 Junback Mon 7 Jun | 4 days → 9 off |
| Summer holidaysfive weeks and 4 days | 22 Jul to 31 Augback Wed 1 Sep | 28 days → 41 off |
The council doesn't publish training (INSET) days for every school: each school sets its own, usually five a year. Check with your school.
Each row is a month, from the 1st on the left. The yellow stickers are the school holidays.
Term dates 2026/27
| Term | First day | Last day |
|---|---|---|
| Autumn term | Tue 1 Sep 2026 | Fri 18 Dec 2026 |
| Spring term | Mon 4 Jan 2027 | Thu 25 Mar 2027 |
| Summer term | Mon 12 Apr 2027 | Wed 21 Jul 2027 |
The terms between Christmas, Easter and the summer. Half terms and the other holidays above fall inside them.
How Dorset compares
All of Dorset's main holidays match the most common English dates: October half term, Christmas holidays, February half term, Easter holidays, May half term and summer holidays.
Compared with the 50 English councils we have 2026/27 dates for. Every English council side by side.
The best days of leave to book in 2026/27
To be off for every school holiday day in 2026/27 you'd need 58 days of leave. Full-time workers are entitled to at least 28 days a year, and that can include the bank holidays, so most families mix leave with a second parent, family and holiday clubs. These are the holidays where a day of leave goes furthest:
Christmas 2026: book 3 days, get 10 off
Open it in the planner to see it in your year and get the message for your manager.
Easter holidays 2027: book 4 days, get 10 off
Open it in the planner to see it in your year and get the message for your manager.
May half term 2027: book 4 days, get 9 off
Open it in the planner to see it in your year and get the message for your manager.
About these dates: Half term is listed as 1 to 4 June, after the 31 May bank holiday. The page doesn't give the autumn 2026 start; Tuesday 1 September is from the council's printable 2026 to 2027 calendar linked from it.
Source: Dorset Council's term dates page, checked on 26 October 2026. Bank holidays from gov.uk.
Dorset school holidays 2027/28
| Holiday | Off, weekends included | Leave to cover it |
|---|---|---|
| October half termone week | 23 to 31 Octback Mon 1 Nov | 5 days → 9 off |
| Christmas holidaystwo weeks and 1 day | 18 Dec to 3 Janback Tue 4 Jan | 8 days → 17 off |
| February half termone week | 12 to 20 Febback Mon 21 Feb | 5 days → 9 off |
| Easter holidaystwo weeks and 1 day | 1 to 17 Aprback Tue 18 Apr | 9 days → 17 off |
| May half termone week | 27 May to 4 Junback Mon 5 Jun | 4 days → 9 off |
| Summer holidaysfive weeks and 4 days | 22 Jul to 31 Augback Fri 1 Sep | 28 days → 41 off |
The council doesn't publish training (INSET) days for every school: each school sets its own, usually five a year. Check with your school.
Each row is a month, from the 1st on the left. The yellow stickers are the school holidays.
Term dates 2027/28
| Term | First day | Last day |
|---|---|---|
| Autumn term | Wed 1 Sep 2027 | Fri 17 Dec 2027 |
| Spring term | Tue 4 Jan 2028 | Fri 31 Mar 2028 |
| Summer term | Tue 18 Apr 2028 | Fri 21 Jul 2028 |
The terms between Christmas, Easter and the summer. Half terms and the other holidays above fall inside them.
How Dorset compares
All of Dorset's main holidays match the most common English dates: October half term, Christmas holidays, February half term, Easter holidays, May half term and summer holidays.
Compared with the 49 English councils we have 2027/28 dates for. Every English council side by side.
The best days of leave to book in 2027/28
To be off for every school holiday day in 2027/28 you'd need 59 days of leave. Full-time workers are entitled to at least 28 days a year, and that can include the bank holidays, so most families mix leave with a second parent, family and holiday clubs. These are the holidays where a day of leave goes furthest:
Christmas 2027: book 3 days, get 10 off
Open it in the planner to see it in your year and get the message for your manager.
Easter holidays 2028: book 4 days, get 10 off
Open it in the planner to see it in your year and get the message for your manager.
May half term 2028: book 4 days, get 9 off
Open it in the planner to see it in your year and get the message for your manager.
About these dates: Half term is listed as 30 May to 2 June, after the 29 May bank holiday.
Source: Dorset Council's term dates page, checked on 26 October 2026. Bank holidays from gov.uk.
Which schools use these dates
These are Dorset Council's dates for community and voluntary controlled schools. Academies, free schools, foundation and voluntary aided schools can set their own, and independent schools always do, so check with your school before you book. Most training (INSET) days are set by each school.
Taking children out of school in term time has its own rules: can I take my child on holiday in term time? Work in a school? Teachers and annual leave.
Questions
When is October half term 2026 in Dorset?
Sat 24 Oct to Sun 1 Nov 2026, weekends included: one week off school. The last day of school before it is Friday 23 October and pupils go back on Monday 2 November.
When is October half term 2027 in Dorset?
Sat 23 Oct to Sun 31 Oct 2027, weekends included: one week off school. The last day of school before it is Friday 22 October and pupils go back on Monday 1 November.
When do Dorset schools break up for Christmas 2026?
The last day of term is Friday 18 December 2026. The holiday runs Sat 19 Dec 2026 to Sun 3 Jan 2027, and schools go back on Monday 4 January 2027.
When are the summer holidays 2027 in Dorset?
Thu 22 Jul to Tue 31 Aug 2027: five weeks and 4 days off school. The last day of term is Wednesday 21 July.
When are the summer holidays 2028 in Dorset?
Sat 22 Jul to Thu 31 Aug 2028: five weeks and 4 days off school. The last day of term is Friday 21 July.
What's the best time to book annual leave around the Dorset school holidays?
Christmas 2026: book Tue 29 to Thu 31 Dec (3 days) and you're off Friday 25 December 2026 to Sunday 3 January 2027, 10 days with the children. Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day are bank holidays, so they come free.
How much annual leave do I need to cover the Dorset school holidays?
58 days in 2026/27 and 59 days in 2027/28, to be off for every school holiday day, Monday to Friday. With 25 days of leave that's about 43% of 2026/27.
Do all schools in Dorset follow these dates?
These are Dorset Council's dates for community and voluntary controlled schools. Academies, free schools, foundation and voluntary aided schools can set their own, and independent schools always do, so check with your school before you book. Most training (INSET) days are set by each school.