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    Half-term planner: what to sort before the week off

    The Haevn team5 min readLast verified:

    Plan half-term in three passes. First, check your child's exact dates with the school, because councils, academies and the four nations set their own. Next, put childcare, clubs and days off work on one shared calendar. Then make the kit lists and a simple food plan, and leave some days free.

    When is half-term where you live?

    There is no single UK date. Each part of the UK handles it differently, and some schools set their own.

    • England: your local council publishes term dates for its schools, and GOV.UK finds your council from your postcode. Academies, free schools, foundation and voluntary aided schools can set their own dates, so check with the school.
    • Wales: local authorities and school governing bodies set term dates. The Welsh Government's proposed dates for 2026 to 2027 put October half-term at 26 to 30 October 2026. Check your council's page for the final dates.
    • Scotland: each local authority sets its own terms and holidays and publishes them on its website.
    • Northern Ireland: school sectors agree common closure dates each year. For 2026 to 2027 these include 29 and 30 October 2026 for Halloween. Schools can open on those days if it suits them, and they set their own training days.

    One more date for October 2026: the clocks go back one hour at 2am on Sunday 25 October.

    What should go on the shared calendar first?

    Start with the fixed things, because everything else fits round them.

    1. The exact days off, including any training days either side. Schools set these individually, so siblings at different schools may not match.
    2. Who is looking after the children each day: work days, days off, grandparents and holiday clubs.
    3. Booked activities, with times, and who is doing each drop-off and pick-up.
    4. Anything that cannot move: appointments, birthdays, and the other home's days if the children split their time.

    In Plan, the calendar is colour-coded per person, so a glance shows who has which day. If the children move between two homes, the free co-parenting schedule planner helps you lay out the nights first.

    Which kit lists are worth making?

    Half-term can mean more bags than a school week. Three lists cover most of it.

    • Holiday club bag: packed lunch if needed, water bottle, a labelled jumper, and any forms the club asked you to return.
    • Swimming bag: towel, costume, goggles, a hat if the pool asks for one, and a coin for the locker.
    • Day out bag: snacks, water, a spare top, a charger, and tickets or booking confirmations.

    In Lists, each item can be assigned by name with a due date, and changes appear on everyone's phone straight away. Save a list as a template and it is ready for the next half-term. Going away for longer? The family holiday packing guide goes further.

    How do you keep meals simple over the week?

    Decide the week's teas before Monday, and put the shopping on one list everyone can add to. Lunches change most, because school lunches stop for the week. Plan for that first, then repeat what works. The Meal Planner keeps the week's plan and the shopping list together.

    How do you avoid "what are we doing today?" every morning?

    Fix one or two plans and leave the rest open.

    • Pick one outing and one plan at home, and put both on the calendar.
    • Keep a running list of films, places and rainy-day ideas. Add to it whenever someone mentions one, so the shortlist is waiting.
    • Check opening times, and whether you need to book, before you set off.
    • Leave at least one day with nothing planned.
    • Birthday party in the week? The children's birthday party checklist covers what to sort, and when.

    What needs sorting before they go back?

    • Uniform washed and named, and PE kit ready for the first PE day.
    • Homework and reading done.
    • Letters, forms and trip payments that came home before the break.
    • The first week's clubs back on the calendar.
    • School bags packed the night before.

    Comparing family organiser apps?

    If you are choosing an app to run the family calendar, lists and meals in one place, our guide to the best family organiser apps in the UK compares the options, with sources and dates.

    Frequently asked questions

    When is October half-term 2026?

    It depends on where you live and which school your child attends. The Welsh Government's proposed dates put it at 26 to 30 October 2026. In Northern Ireland, 29 and 30 October 2026 are agreed Halloween closure days. In England and Scotland, check your council's term dates and your child's school.

    Do academies have the same half-term as council schools?

    Not always. Academies and free schools can choose to set their own term dates, so check with the school directly.

    When do the clocks go back in 2026?

    The clocks go back one hour at 2am on Sunday 25 October 2026.

    How can two homes plan half-term together?

    Agree which days each home has the children before booking anything, then keep both homes on one calendar. Haevn's free co-parenting schedule planner lays out the nights in each home.

    Can grandparents see the half-term plan?

    Yes, if they are members of your Haevn household. A household can have up to 8 members, each list has its own member settings, and each person can set Haevn to their own language from 16 options, including Punjabi, Welsh and Polish.

    Sources

    Corrections to support@haevn.co.uk.

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