Practical · Updated July 2026
Term dates, half terms and holiday stretches for Suffolk County Council maintained schools — plus inset-day caveats and links to holiday clubs. Academies may differ; always confirm with your school.
These dates follow Suffolk County Council’s published 2026/27 calendar for maintained schools. Academies, free schools and voluntary aided schools can set different dates. Check your school’s calendar and PD (inset) days before booking leave.
Many Suffolk schools broke up on Monday 20 July 2026. Summer holidays typically run Tuesday 21 July – Monday 31 August 2026, with the new academic year starting Tuesday 1 September 2026 (often PD days on 1–2 September, so pupils may return Wednesday 3 September).
Looking for things to do in the holidays? See things to do in Suffolk, free days out and the Ipswich Fit summer programme links below.
| Holiday | Dates | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| October half term 2026 | Mon 26 Oct – Fri 30 Oct 2026 | One full week |
| Christmas holidays 2026–27 | Sat 19 Dec 2026 – Sun 3 Jan 2027 | Breaks up Fri 18 Dec 2026; return after PD day (often Tue 5 Jan if Mon 4 Jan is PD)SCC recommends a PD day on Mon 4 Jan 2027 — confirm your school’s first pupil day. |
| February half term 2027 | Mon 15 Feb – Fri 19 Feb 2027 | One full week |
| Easter holidays 2027 | Fri 26 Mar – Sun 11 Apr 2027 | Last pupil day typically Thu 25 Mar 2027; summer term begins Mon 12 Apr (often a PD day)SCC recommends PD day Mon 12 Apr 2027 — many pupils return Tue 13 Apr. |
| May half term 2027 | Mon 31 May – Fri 4 Jun 2027 | One full week (includes Spring Bank Holiday Mon 31 May) |
| Summer holidays 2027 | From Thu 22 Jul 2027 (after last day Wed 21 Jul) | Summer break begins after Wednesday 21 July 2027Return date for autumn 2027–28 is set in the next county calendar — check your school. |
Tue 1 Sep 2026 – Fri 18 Dec 2026
Half term: Mon 26 Oct – Fri 30 Oct 2026
Mon 4 Jan 2027 – Thu 25 Mar 2027
Half term: Mon 15 Feb – Fri 19 Feb 2027
Mon 12 Apr 2027 – Wed 21 Jul 2027
Half term: Mon 31 May – Fri 4 Jun 2027
Suffolk recommends five PD days. Pupils usually do not attend on these dates — but schools can choose different days:
That pattern often means the first pupil day of autumn is Wednesday 3 September 2026, and the first pupil day after Easter is Tuesday 13 April 2027 — if your school follows the county recommendations.
For the end of the 2025–26 year, many Suffolk schools’ last pupil day is Monday 20 July 2026, with summer holidays running Tuesday 21 July to Monday 31 August 2026. The 2026–27 year then starts Tuesday 1 September 2026 (often with PD days on 1–2 September). Always confirm with your school.
Key breaks are October half term (26–30 Oct 2026), Christmas (19 Dec 2026 – 3 Jan 2027), February half term (15–19 Feb 2027), Easter (26 Mar – 11 Apr 2027), May half term (31 May – 4 Jun 2027), and summer from 22 July 2027 after the last day on 21 July.
Community and voluntary controlled schools follow Suffolk County Council dates. Academies, free schools and some church schools can set their own. Always check your child’s school website for the definitive calendar and INSET/PD days.
Professional Development (PD) days are teacher training days when pupils do not attend. Suffolk recommends five across the year. They sit inside the published term dates, so the first or last “term” day is not always a pupil day.
Try Ipswich Fit’s Summer Holiday iCard and activity programme, the Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) programme for eligible families, leisure centres in Bury, Lowestoft and Felixstowe, and local school wraparound clubs. Links are listed below.
Information based on Suffolk County Council’s 2026/27 maintained-school calendar. Not an official government publication — verify with your school before making plans.