February half-term and the other 2025 term dates England's parents need to know

• English schoolchildren have a number of lengthy breaks between and even during their school terms

• Council areas can set their own term dates, meaning they might vary depending on where you live

• It can even vary by which school your child attends

Half-term is almost here for many schoolchildren - but families will have to stick to the school run schedule just a little longer.

The week-long February half term is set to kick off on Monday, 17 February in many parts of England, but it’s far from the only break pupils will have to look forward to throughout 2025. The new school year usually begins around the start of September after a lengthy summer break, and has three distinct terms. Each one has a one to two-week-long break between them, often covering major holidays like Christmas and Easter. Terms aren’t a solid block of school days either, with each having a half-term break - and there are also a number of Bank Holidays dotted throughout the year that schools often recognise.

However, each local authority is able to sets its own terms and school holiday dates - meaning they may vary a little depending on where you live. But just like in Scotland and Northern Ireland, these are generally pretty similar across different schools and council areas.

Here is a general guide to when the school terms in England and Wales will begin and end throughout the rest of the year - based on the dates set by several large English councils, including Kent and Croydon:

England and Wales’ term and school holiday dates 2025

• Friday, 3 January: Start of spring term 

• Monday, 17 February - Friday, 21 February: February half-term 

• Monday, 7 April - Monday, 21 April: Easter holidays

• Tuesday, 22 April: Summer term begins 

• Monday, 5 May: May Day 

• Monday, 26 May - Friday, Friday, 30 May: Half-term holiday

• Tuesday, 22 July: End of 2024/25 school year - summer holidays begin

• Monday, 1 September 2025: Start of new school year

• Monday, 27 October - Friday, 31 October: October half-term

• Monday, 22 December - Friday, 2 January 2026: End of autumn term (Christmas holidays)

Each of England and Wales’ local authorities has the power to set its own term and school holiday dates. The government has an online tool you can use here to find the exact dates in your council’s area.