There are six main holiday breaks during the academic year, helping families plan around the official Waltham Forest School holidays and school term dates. Published by Waltham Forest Council, the calendar includes the autumn term, spring term, summer term, and all key school holiday dates within the annual academic calendar.
The schedule includes half-term breaks, the Christmas break, Easter break, bank holidays, and the May Day bank holiday, along with important dates for returning to school.
It also supports family holiday planning, offers a school planning calendar, and helps families compare London school holidays, local authority school holidays, and schedules in neighboring boroughs’ comparisons.
Waltham Forest School Holidays 2025/2026
Below are the Waltham Forest school holidays and term dates for 2025/2026.
Autumn Term 2025
- Term Starts:Â Monday 1 September 2025
- Half-term Break:Â Monday 27 October 2025 to Friday 31 October 2025
- Christmas Break:Â Monday 22 December 2025 to Friday 2 January 2026
- Term Ends:Â Friday 19 December 2025
Spring Term 2026
- Term Starts:Â Monday 5 January 2026
- Half-term Break:Â Monday 16 February 2026 to Friday 20 February 2026
- Easter Break:Â Monday 30 March 2026 to Friday 10 April 2026
- Term Ends:Â Friday 27 March 2026
Summer Term 2026
- Term Starts:Â Monday 13 April 2026
- May Day Bank Holiday:Â Monday 4 May 2026
- Half-term Break:Â Tuesday 26 May 2026 to Friday 29 May 2026
- Term Ends:Â Monday 20 July 2026
Waltham Forest School Holidays 2026/2027
Below are the Waltham Forest school holidays and term dates for 2026/2027.
Autumn Term 2026
- Term Starts:Â Wednesday 2 September 2026
- Half-term Break:Â Monday 26 October 2026 to Friday 30 October 2026
- Christmas Break:Â Monday 21 December 2026 to Monday 4 January 2027
- Term Ends:Â Friday 18 December 2026
Spring Term 2027
- Term Starts:Â Monday 4 January 2027
- Half-term Break:Â Monday 15 February 2027 to Friday 19 February 2027
- Easter Break:Â Monday 29 March 2027 to Friday 9 April 2027
- Term Ends:Â Thursday 25 March 2027
Summer Term 2027
- Term Starts:Â Monday 12 April 2027
- May Day Bank Holiday:Â Monday 3 May 2027
- Half-term Break:Â Tuesday 1 June 2027 to Friday 4 June 2027
- Term Ends:Â Thursday 22 July 2027
Find UK School Holidays by Council
Looking for official school holiday dates across the UK? Browse our complete guide to UK school holidays organised by council so you can quickly find accurate term dates and plan family activities with confidence.
Check more: England School Holidays
Waltham Forest School Holidays 2027/2028
Below are the Waltham Forest school holidays and term dates for 2027/2028.
Autumn Term 2027
- Term Starts:Â Wednesday 1 September 2027
- Half-term Break:Â Monday 25 October 2027 to Friday 29 October 2027
- Term Ends:Â Friday 17 December 2027
Spring Term 2028
- Term Starts:Â Tuesday 4 January 2028
- Half-term Break:Â Monday 14 February 2028 to Friday 18 February 2028
- Term Ends:Â Friday 31 March 2028
Summer Term 2028
- Term Starts:Â Tuesday 18 April 2028
- Half-term Break:Â Tuesday 30 May 2028 to Friday 2 June 2028
- Term Ends:Â Friday 21 July 2028
Inset Days & Staff Training Dates
INSET days are a key part of the academic year, allowing teachers to plan and train. These are not set by the council and can vary between schools. The Waltham Forest Council recommends a maximum of 5 INSET days per year, leaving 190 days for pupil attendance.
For example, local schools have scheduled INSET days on different dates:
- Henry Maynard Primary School often has INSET days on the first day of term and during the summer term.
- Eden Girls’ School also uses INSET days on the first day of term and before the summer break.
- Poole’s Park Primary has INSET days at the start of each term.
It is always best to check the individual school’s website for their specific training days.
Bank Holidays & Religious Observances
In addition to school holidays, there are public holidays. These are significant for family holiday planning in Waltham Forest.
- May Day Bank Holiday:Â Monday 4 May 2026 and Monday 3 May 2027.
- Other Public Holidays: The Christmas break and Easter break are also major holiday periods.
Religious observances are also important. Some schools may have additional holidays for Eid, subject to the sighting of the new moon. These dates are not fixed in the standard Waltham Forest schools’ calendar.
School Term Date PDFs
For easy reference, you can download the official term dates from the Waltham Forest Council website:
- Waltham Forest 2025/2026 Term Dates PDF
- Waltham Forest 2026/2027 Academic Calendar PDF
- Waltham Forest 2027/2028 School Holiday PDF
Have a Question About School Holiday Dates?
If you’ve spotted an issue, need clarification, or have a question about UK school holidays or term dates, feel free to get in touch with us.
We hope this page helps you navigate the Waltham Forest school holidays. While we’ve done our best to compile accurate information, we always recommend verifying these dates with the official council website or your child’s school, especially for INSET days.
Also Check: Hampshire School Holidays
Useful Resources
For the most up-to-date and official information, always check with:
- Waltham Forest Council:
FAQs
Does every school in Waltham Forest follow the same term dates?
Yes. The council sets the dates for community schools, and most academies and voluntary-aided schools follow the same pattern to provide consistency for parents.
Are INSET days included in the term dates listed?
No. The listed dates are for pupils. Schools schedule up to 5 INSET days themselves, which are not fixed in the council calendar.
Where can I find the official Waltham Forest term dates?
You can find the official PDFs on the Waltham Forest Council website or by using the download links provided in this article.
How many school days are there in the academic year?
The total school year includes 195 days, with up to 5 days for staff training, resulting in 190 statutory school days for pupils.
Do academies follow the council’s term dates?
Most academies in the borough agree to follow the recommended holiday pattern to maintain consistency across the area.