Two-week autumn half terms divide families over rest, travel and childcare

Schools in parts of England are moving to a two-week autumn half term, but the longer break is dividing parents: some welcome cheaper holiday options and more time to rest, while others face a fortnight of difficult and costly childcare arrangements. [1]

Several local authorities, including Nottinghamshire, Bromley and the Isle of Wight, have opted for two weeks in 2026/27. Most councils still favour a one-week break, and academies and faith schools may set their own dates, adding to differences between schools—even within the same family. [1]

For Samantha Buckland, a single mother in Reigate, Surrey, the change means trying to piece together childcare while holding down two jobs. A local holiday club is running for only one of the two weeks, and she expects to seek help from family or friends. “I’d like to work, I need money,” she told the BBC. [1]

The challenge can also arise when siblings’ schools adopt different calendars. Alistair Pringle, from Washington in Tyne and Wear, has one child at a secondary academy with a two-week break and another at a primary academy with one week. His employer can accommodate some work from home, but he is concerned about how his eldest will spend the extra week off. [1]

The longer break suits other families. Fay Harding, whose husband and three children are all off at the same time, says they can visit relatives in Wales and avoid paying peak summer holiday prices. Some teachers also support the change: Lucy Walker-Etchells says two weeks gives staff time to recharge during an intense autumn term and argues that a shorter summer break could help pupils who struggle with a long period away from school routine. [1]

Unity Schools Partnership introduced a two-week autumn half term in 2023. In a consultation the following year, 58% of parents and 89% of staff supported the change, according to the trust. Its chief executive, Dominic Norrish, also says staff sickness-absence days have fallen by 16% since the change. [1]

The shift is not universal or necessarily permanent. Surrey County Council moved to a fortnight this year but decided to return to one week next year after head teachers raised concerns about the impact. Schools that extend the autumn break often shorten the summer holiday instead. [1]

The competing views reflect the practical trade-off: a longer break may make autumn more manageable for pupils and teachers, or allow families to travel outside the summer peak, but it can leave working parents with more days to cover. For Buckland, the potential benefit to children does not remove the difficulty of finding childcare. [1]