Leave HackerGuidesPlan my yearSouth Lanarkshire school holidays 2026/27 and 2027/28
South Lanarkshire's school holidays and term dates for 2026/27 and 2027/28, from South Lanarkshire Council. South Lanarkshire schools break up for Christmas on Tuesday 22 December 2026 and go back on Wednesday 6 January. For a parent, the best value is Christmas 2026: book 3 days, get 11 off (Fri 25 Dec 2026 to Mon 4 Jan 2027). Christmas 2026 is Wed 23 Dec 2026 to Tue 5 Jan 2027 (two weeks), a week later than the most common Scottish dates: Sat 19 Dec 2026 to Mon 4 Jan 2027 (two weeks and 1 day, 12 of 32 councils).
South Lanarkshire school holidays 2026/27
| Holiday | Off, weekends included | Leave to cover it |
|---|---|---|
| September weekend2 days, past | 25 to 28 Sepback Tue 29 Sep | 2 days → 4 off |
| October holidaysone week, past | 10 to 18 Octback Mon 19 Oct | 5 days → 9 off |
| Christmas holidaystwo weeks | 23 Dec to 5 Janback Wed 6 Jan | 6 days → 14 off |
| February mid-term2 days | 13 to 16 Febback Wed 17 Feb INSET day | 2 days → 4 off |
| Good Friday and Easter Monday2 days | 26 to 29 Marback Tue 30 Mar | 1 day → 4 off |
| Easter holidaystwo weeks | 3 to 18 Aprback Mon 19 Apr | 10 days → 16 off |
| May Day1 day | 1 to 3 Mayback Tue 4 May | No leave |
| May weekend2 days | 28 to 31 Mayback Tue 1 Jun | 1 day → 4 off |
| Summer holidaysseven weeks and 1 day | 26 Jun to 16 Augback Tue 17 Aug | 35 days → 52 off |
Training (INSET) days set by the council: Tue 11 Aug 2026, Wed 12 Aug 2026, Mon 9 Nov 2026, Wed 17 Feb 2027 and Thu 6 May 2027. Pupils are off. Check with your school: schools set their other training days themselves.
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 | Thu 13 Aug 2026 | Tue 22 Dec 2026 |
| Spring term | Wed 6 Jan 2027 | Fri 2 Apr 2027 |
| Summer term | Mon 19 Apr 2027 | Fri 25 Jun 2027 |
The terms between Christmas, Easter and the summer; Scottish councils often number them 1 to 4. Half terms and the other holidays above fall inside them.
How South Lanarkshire compares
- Christmas 2026 is Wed 23 Dec 2026 to Tue 5 Jan 2027 (two weeks), a week later than the most common Scottish dates: Sat 19 Dec 2026 to Mon 4 Jan 2027 (two weeks and 1 day, 12 of 32 councils).
- Easter holidays 2027 are Sat 3 Apr to Sun 18 Apr 2027 (two weeks), a week later than the most common Scottish dates: Fri 26 Mar to Sun 11 Apr 2027 (two weeks and 1 day, 13 of 32 councils).
- Summer holidays 2027 are Sat 26 Jun to Mon 16 Aug 2027 (seven weeks and 1 day), longer than the most common Scottish dates: Sat 26 Jun to Tue 10 Aug 2027 (six weeks and 2 days, 4 of 32 councils).
Its October holidays and February mid-term match the most common Scottish dates.
Compared with the 32 Scottish councils we have 2026/27 dates for. Every Scottish 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 67 days of leave, including the council's INSET days. 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 11 off
Open it in the planner to see it in your year and get the message for your manager.
Easter holidays 2027: book 5 days, get 9 off
Open it in the planner to see it in your year and get the message for your manager.
Summer holidays 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.
If your leave year runs January to December, covering the whole Christmas holiday takes 5 days from your 2026 leave and 1 day from 2027's.
About these dates: Lanark schools close on 10 and 11 June 2027 instead of the May weekend.
Source: South Lanarkshire Council's term dates page, checked on 26 October 2026. Bank holidays from gov.uk.
South Lanarkshire school holidays 2027/28
| Holiday | Off, weekends included | Leave to cover it |
|---|---|---|
| September weekend2 days | 24 to 27 Sepback Tue 28 Sep | 2 days → 4 off |
| October holidaysone week | 9 to 17 Octback Mon 18 Oct | 5 days → 9 off |
| Christmas holidaystwo weeks | 22 Dec to 4 Janback Wed 5 Jan | 6 days → 14 off |
| February mid-term2 days | 12 to 15 Febback Wed 16 Feb INSET day | 2 days → 4 off |
| Easter holidaystwo weeks and 1 day | 1 to 17 Aprback Tue 18 Apr | 10 days → 17 off |
| May Day1 day | 29 Apr to 1 Mayback Tue 2 May | No leave |
| May weekend2 days | 26 to 29 Mayback Tue 30 May | 1 day → 4 off |
| Summer holidayssix weeks and 2 days | 28 Jun to 10 Augback Fri 11 Aug | 31 days → 44 off |
Training (INSET) days set by the council: Fri 13 Aug 2027, Mon 16 Aug 2027, Mon 8 Nov 2027, Wed 16 Feb 2028 and Thu 25 May 2028. Pupils are off. Check with your school: schools set their other training days themselves.
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 | Tue 17 Aug 2027 | Tue 21 Dec 2027 |
| Spring term | Wed 5 Jan 2028 | Fri 31 Mar 2028 |
| Summer term | Tue 18 Apr 2028 | Tue 27 Jun 2028 |
The terms between Christmas, Easter and the summer; Scottish councils often number them 1 to 4. Half terms and the other holidays above fall inside them.
How South Lanarkshire compares
- October holidays 2027 are Sat 9 Oct to Sun 17 Oct 2027 (one week), shorter than the most common Scottish dates: Sat 9 Oct to Sun 24 Oct 2027 (two weeks, 14 of 29 councils).
- Summer holidays 2028 are Wed 28 Jun to Thu 10 Aug 2028 (six weeks and 2 days), longer than the most common Scottish dates: Sat 1 Jul to Thu 10 Aug 2028 (five weeks and 4 days, 10 of 29 councils).
Its Christmas holidays, February mid-term and Easter holidays match the most common Scottish dates.
Compared with the 29 Scottish councils we have 2027/28 dates for. Every Scottish 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 62 days of leave, including the council's INSET days. 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 11 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 9 off
Open it in the planner to see it in your year and get the message for your manager.
Summer holidays 2028: book 5 days, get 10 off
Open it in the planner to see it in your year and get the message for your manager.
About these dates: Lanark schools close on 8 and 9 June 2028 instead of the May weekend.
Source: South Lanarkshire Council's term dates page, checked on 26 October 2026. Bank holidays from gov.uk.
Which schools use these dates
These are South Lanarkshire Council's dates for its own schools. Independent schools set their own, and some local holidays vary from school to school, so check with your school before you book.
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 are the October holidays 2027 in South Lanarkshire?
Sat 9 Oct to Sun 17 Oct 2027, weekends included: one week off school. The last day of school before it is Friday 8 October and pupils go back on Monday 18 October.
When do South Lanarkshire schools break up for Christmas 2026?
The last day of term is Tuesday 22 December 2026. The holiday runs Wed 23 Dec 2026 to Tue 5 Jan 2027, and schools go back on Wednesday 6 January 2027.
When are the summer holidays 2027 in South Lanarkshire?
Sat 26 Jun to Mon 16 Aug 2027: seven weeks and 1 day off school. The last day of term is Friday 25 June.
When are the summer holidays 2028 in South Lanarkshire?
Wed 28 Jun to Thu 10 Aug 2028: six weeks and 2 days off school. The last day of term is Tuesday 27 June.
What's the best time to book annual leave around the South Lanarkshire school holidays?
Christmas 2026: book Tue 29 to Thu 31 Dec (3 days) and you're off Friday 25 December 2026 to Monday 4 January 2027, 11 days with the children. Christmas Day, Boxing Day, New Year’s Day and 2nd January are bank holidays, so they come free.
How much annual leave do I need to cover the South Lanarkshire school holidays?
67 days in 2026/27 and 62 days in 2027/28, to be off for every school holiday day and the council's INSET days, Monday to Friday. With 25 days of leave that's about 37% of 2026/27.
Do all schools in South Lanarkshire follow these dates?
These are South Lanarkshire Council's dates for its own schools. Independent schools set their own, and some local holidays vary from school to school, so check with your school before you book.