Planning your family’s year around the Cheshire East School Holidays just got simpler. This essential guide provides the complete, official Cheshire East School Term Dates for the next three academic years, directly sourced from the Cheshire East Council. We’ve compiled all the school holiday dates, including every half term, into one easy-to-use school calendar. Beyond the dates, we explain the important rules on school attendance, the reality of term-time holiday fines, and how INSET days work across local authority schools, community schools, and voluntary aided school academies.
We’ll also touch on related services like school admissions in Cheshire East and school transport in Cheshire East, ensuring you have all the information you need in one place.
Cheshire East School Term Dates and Calendar
Here are the official term and holiday dates for Cheshire East schools for the 2025/26, 2026/27, and 2027/28 academic years. These dates are set by the local authority for community- and voluntary-controlled schools. However, please remember to always double-check with your specific school’s website, as academies, free schools, and some others have the autonomy to set their own dates.
Cheshire East School Holidays 2025/2026
Cheshire East school holidays for the 2025/26 academic year run from Monday, 1st September 2025, to Wednesday, 21st July 2026.
| Term | Status | Dates | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Autumn Term 2025 | Term Time | Mon 1 Sep 2025 – Fri 24 Oct 2025 | 40 days |
| Half Term | Mon 27 Oct 2025 – Fri 31 Oct 2025 | 1 week | |
| Term Time | Mon 3 Nov 2025 – Fri 19 Dec 2025 | 35 days | |
| Christmas Holiday | Mon 22 Dec 2025 – Fri 2 Jan 2026 | Includes Bank Holidays | |
| Spring Term 2026 | Term Time | Mon 5 Jan 2026 – Fri 13 Feb 2026 | 30 days |
| Half Term | Mon 16 Feb 2026 – Fri 20 Feb 2026 | 1 week | |
| Term Time | Mon 23 Feb 2026 – Fri 27 Mar 2026 | 25 days | |
| Spring (Easter) Holiday | Mon 30 Mar 2026 – Fri 10 Apr 2026 | Includes Good Friday & Easter Monday | |
| Summer Term 2026 | Term Time | Mon 13 Apr 2026 – Fri 22 May 2026 | 29 days (Includes Early May BH) |
| Half Term | Mon 25 May 2026 – Fri 29 May 2026 | Includes Spring Bank Holiday | |
| Term Time | Mon 1 Jun 2026 – Mon 20 Jul 2026 | 36 days | |
| Summer Holiday | Tue 21 Jul 2026 – Mon 31 Aug 2026 |
Cheshire East School Holidays 2026/2027
Cheshire East school holidays for the 2026/27 academic year run from Tuesday, 1st September 2026, to Wednesday, 21st July 2027.
| Term | Status | Dates | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Autumn Term 2026 | Term Time | Tue 1 Sep 2026 – Fri 23 Oct 2026 | 39 days |
| Half Term | Mon 26 Oct 2026 – Fri 30 Oct 2026 | 1 week | |
| Term Time | Mon 2 Nov 2026 – Fri 18 Dec 2026 | 35 days | |
| Christmas Holiday | Mon 21 Dec 2026 – Fri 1 Jan 2027 | Includes Bank Holidays | |
| Spring Term 2027 | Term Time | Mon 4 Jan 2027 – Fri 12 Feb 2027 | 30 days |
| Half Term | Mon 15 Feb 2027 – Fri 19 Feb 2027 | 1 week | |
| Term Time | Mon 22 Feb 2027 – Thu 25 Mar 2027 | 24 days | |
| Spring (Easter) Holiday | Fri 26 Mar 2027 – Fri 9 Apr 2027 | ||
| Summer Term 2027 | Term Time | Mon 12 Apr 2027 – Fri 28 May 2027 | 34 days (May Day BH excepted) |
| Half Term | Mon 31 May 2027 – Fri 4 Jun 2027 | Includes Spring Bank Holiday (31st) | |
| Term Time | Mon 7 Jun 2027 – Wed 21 Jul 2027 | 33 days | |
| Summer Holiday | Thu 22 Jul 2027 | Begins |
Read More: South Ayrshire School Holidays
Cheshire East School Holidays 2027/2028
Cheshire East school holidays for the 2027/28 academic year run from Wednesday, 1st September 2027, to Friday, 21st July 2028.
| Term | Status | Dates | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Autumn Term 2027 | Term Time | Wed 1 Sep 2027 – Fri 22 Oct 2027 | 38 days |
| Half Term | Mon 25 Oct 2027 – Fri 29 Oct 2027 | 1 week | |
| Term Time | Mon 1 Nov 2027 – Fri 17 Dec 2027 | 35 days | |
| Christmas Holiday | Mon 20 Dec 2027 – Mon 3 Jan 2028 | Includes Bank Holidays | |
| Spring Term 2028 | Term Time | Tue 4 Jan 2028 – Fri 11 Feb 2028 | 29 days |
| Half Term | Mon 14 Feb 2028 – Fri 18 Feb 2028 | 1 week | |
| Term Time | Mon 21 Feb 2028 – Fri 31 Mar 2028 | 30 days | |
| Spring (Easter) Holiday | Mon 3 Apr 2028 – Mon 17 Apr 2028 | Includes Bank Holiday (17th) | |
| Summer Term 2028 | Term Time | Tue 18 Apr 2028 – Fri 26 May 2028 | 28 days (Includes May Day BH) |
| Half Term | Mon 29 May 2028 – Fri 2 Jun 2028 | Includes Spring Bank Holiday (29th) | |
| Term Time | Mon 5 Jun 2028 – Fri 21 Jul 2028 | 35 days | |
| Summer Holiday | Mon 24 Jul 2028 | Begins |
Important Variations and Key Information
While the calendar above is the standard for Cheshire East, it’s not universal for every school. Here’s why you might see differences and what other key factors you need to know.
What are INSET (Training) Days?
INSET days (In-Service Training Days) are days when the school is closed to pupils so staff can undergo mandatory training. Every school has five INSET days per year to use at its discretion. This means your child’s school might be closed on dates not listed in the main holiday calendar.
The governing body of each school sets these dates, so you must check your own school’s website or newsletter for its specific INSET day schedule. They are a classic reason why the local authority calendar and your child’s first day back might not match!
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Principles Behind Cheshire East’s Term Dates
Have you ever wondered how these dates are chosen? The Cheshire East Council follows a set of principles to ensure consistency and fairness:
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190-Day Requirement: All maintained schools must be open to pupils for 190 days (380 sessions) each year. Academies can choose to have more.
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Term Starts: Terms ideally start on a Monday (or Tuesday after a bank holiday).
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Half-Term Timing: Autumn half-term is the week before the first Tuesday in November. Spring half-term is typically the third full week in February.
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Easter Holidays:Â The two-week spring break is kept as close to the start of April as possible, with Easter falling within it.
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Minimum Week: If a school is open for part of a week, it must be for at least three days to encourage good school attendance.
Also Read: Norfolk School Holidays
FAQs
Q1. Can I take my child on holiday during term time in Cheshire East?
No. Headteachers can only grant leave for exceptional circumstances. Family holidays are not considered excellent, and taking one can result in a penalty notice (fine).
Q2. Do all schools in Cheshire East follow these exact dates?
Not always. While community schools follow these dates, academy trusts, voluntary aided schools, and foundation schools can set their own. Always check your school’s website.
Q3. What is an authorised absence?
An authorised absence is when the school has approved a pupil’s time off for a valid reason, such as genuine illness or an exceptional circumstance like a family funeral.
Q4. Where can I find my school’s own calendar?
You should always consult your specific school’s official website. Look for a section called “Term Dates,” “Academic Calendar,” or “Diary.”
We hope this complete guide to Cheshire East school holidays and term dates helps you plan your family’s year with confidence. The key takeaway is to always use your own school’s calendar as the final source, especially to account for INSET days and any variations for academies.
For the absolute latest, official information, please refer to the primary sources:
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Cheshire East Council:Â https://www.cheshireeast.gov.uk/ (Search for “school term dates.”)
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UK Government:Â https://www.gov.uk/ (Search for “school term dates Cheshire East.”)
Ready to plan? Download these dates, sync them with your personal school calendar, and look forward to a well-organized year ahead!
