Essex school term dates & holidays 2026/27 and 2027/28

Compiled from Essex County Council's published calendar · last checked 7 September 2026

These are the official school term dates and holidays set by Essex County Council for the 2026/27 and 2027/28 academic years: term start and finish dates, half terms, and the Christmas, Easter and summer breaks. We take the dates straight from the council's own published calendar (linked below), convert them into one consistent format, and recheck them each academic year. School-day counts exclude weekends and half term but not inset days, which individual schools choose themselves.

Essex term dates 2026/27

PeriodStartsEndsLength
Autumn term 2026 termTuesday, 1 September 2026Friday, 18 December 202674 school days
October half term holidayMonday, 26 October 2026Friday, 30 October 2026
Christmas holiday holidaySaturday, 19 December 2026Sunday, 3 January 2027
Spring term 2027 termMonday, 4 January 2027Thursday, 25 March 202754 school days
February half term holidayMonday, 15 February 2027Friday, 19 February 2027
Easter holiday holidayFriday, 26 March 2027Sunday, 11 April 2027
Summer term 2027 termMonday, 12 April 2027Wednesday, 21 July 202768 school days
May half term holidayMonday, 31 May 2027Friday, 4 June 2027
Council notes for 2026/27:
  • Essex publishes six numbered terms (Autumn term 1: 1 Sep-23 Oct 2026; Autumn term 2: 2 Nov-18 Dec 2026; Spring term 3: 4 Jan-12 Feb 2027; Spring term 4: 22 Feb-25 Mar 2027; Summer term 5: 12 Apr-28 May 2027; Summer term 6: 7 Jun-21 Jul 2027) with the half terms stated as above.
  • Holidays as stated: winter holiday (Christmas) 21-31 December 2026; Easter bank holiday 26-29 March 2027; spring holiday (Easter) 30 March-9 April 2027; early May bank holiday 3 May 2027; summer holiday 22 July-31 August 2027.
  • There are 195 school days in a year. Schools also have 5 days out of the academic year for staff training; contact the school to find out when.
  • These dates are for community and voluntary controlled schools in Essex. Full dates also published as a PDF calendar on the year page (https://www.essex.gov.uk/schools-and-learning/schools/essex-school-terms-and-holidays/academic-year-2026-2027).

Essex term dates 2027/28

PeriodStartsEndsLength
Autumn term 2027 termWednesday, 1 September 2027Friday, 17 December 202773 school days
October half term holidayMonday, 25 October 2027Friday, 29 October 2027
Christmas holiday holidaySaturday, 18 December 2027Monday, 3 January 2028
Spring term 2028 termTuesday, 4 January 2028Friday, 31 March 202859 school days
February half term holidayMonday, 14 February 2028Friday, 18 February 2028
Easter holiday holidaySaturday, 1 April 2028Monday, 17 April 2028
Summer term 2028 termTuesday, 18 April 2028Friday, 21 July 202865 school days
May half term holidayTuesday, 30 May 2028Friday, 2 June 2028
Council notes for 2027/28:
  • Essex publishes six numbered terms (Autumn term 1: 1 Sep-22 Oct 2027; Autumn term 2: 1 Nov-17 Dec 2027; Spring term 3: 4 Jan-11 Feb 2028; Spring term 4: 21 Feb-31 Mar 2028; Summer term 5: 18 Apr-26 May 2028; Summer term 6: 5 Jun-21 Jul 2028).
  • Summer half term is stated as Tuesday 30 May to Friday 2 June 2028, with the spring bank holiday (Monday 29 May 2028) listed separately just before it.
  • Holidays as stated: winter holiday (Christmas) 20 December 2027-3 January 2028; spring holiday (Easter) 3-13 April 2028; Easter bank holiday 14-17 April 2028; early May bank holiday 1 May 2028; summer holiday 24 July-31 August 2028.
  • Council note on the summer holiday end date: 'Schools are expected to return from week beginning 4 September 2028.'
  • There are 195 school days in a year, plus 5 days for staff training. These dates are for community and voluntary controlled schools in Essex (year page: https://www.essex.gov.uk/schools-and-learning/schools/essex-school-terms-and-holidays/academic-year-2027-2028).
Source: these dates come from Essex County Council's official term dates page, last checked by us on 7 September 2026. If the council amends its calendar mid-year, its page is the authority; tell us and we'll correct ours. Read how we compile term dates.

Common questions

When is October half term in Essex?

October half term in Essex runs from Monday, 26 October 2026 to Friday, 30 October 2026. Pupils return the following school day.

When do Essex schools break up for Christmas?

The autumn term in Essex ends on Friday, 18 December 2026, so that is the last day of school before the Christmas holiday.

When do Essex schools break up for summer?

The summer term ends on Wednesday, 21 July 2027. The summer holiday starts the next day.

Is Essex's October half term the same as neighbouring councils?

Partly. Of the 10 other East of England councils we cover, 9 share Essex's October half term week in 2026/27, while Norfolk differs. If your children attend schools under different councils, check both pages before booking.

Do all schools in Essex follow these dates?

No. These are Essex County Council's published dates for community and voluntary-controlled schools. Academies, free schools, foundation schools and private schools set their own calendars, and every school adds its own inset days. Check with your school before booking anything you can't refund.

Tempted by term-time prices? Taking children out of school during term can mean a penalty notice, and the rules differ across the UK. How school fines work, nation by nation.

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