UK School Holidays & Exeats 2026/2027: A Parent's Guide

International students studying at UK boarding schools, colleges, and universities will all eventually need assistance with travel and/or accommodation during their academic breaks. We are here to support by arranging reliable transport and secure accommodation.

For parents living overseas, planning these breaks well in advance makes all the difference, not only for convenience but also for your child's welfare and for meeting UKVI and school requirements.

In this guide we set out the key dates for the 2026/27 academic year, explain the four main options available to your family, and show you exactly how British Guardianship can help with each one.

Key School Holiday Dates 2026/27

Every school publishes its own term dates, so please always check your child's school calendar first. As a general guide, most UK boarding schools follow this pattern for the remainder of 2026 and the 2026/27 academic year:

• October half-term: mid to late October 2026, typically one to two weeks, often around 17 October to 1 November
• Christmas holidays: from around mid December 2026 until early January 2027
• February half-term: usually one week in mid February 2027
• Easter holidays: from late March until mid April 2027 (Easter falls early in 2027, with Easter Sunday on 28 March)
• Summer half-term: late May to early June 2027, usually around the Spring bank holiday
• End of the school year: late June to early July 2027

In addition, most boarding schools hold two or three exeat weekends each term, when boarding houses close from Friday afternoon or Saturday until Sunday evening. Exeat dates vary from school to school, so please note them carefully at the start of each term.

UK Bank Holidays 2026 and 2027

Bank holidays are public holidays in England and Wales. Schools are closed, and travel is often busier around these dates, so they are worth keeping in mind when booking flights and transfers:

• Friday 25 December 2026: Christmas Day
• Monday 28 December 2026: Boxing Day (substitute day)
• Friday 1 January 2027: New Year's Day
• Friday 26 March 2027: Good Friday
• Monday 29 March 2027: Easter Monday
• Monday 3 May 2027: Early May bank holiday
• Monday 31 May 2027: Spring bank holiday

For full list of upcoming Bank Holidays in the England, Wales and Scotland, visit the official UK Gov website.

Why We Need To Know Your Plans

Whenever a student leaves school accommodation, British Guardianship must know where they will be staying and how they will travel. This is not a formality. It allows us to fulfil our safeguarding responsibilities as an AEGIS accredited guardian, keep emergency contact arrangements up to date, and step in quickly if anything unexpected happens.

Holiday plans are also part of the student registration process, including arrangements for the first holiday period where these are required for UKVI reporting. If your plans change at any point, please tell us straight away so that our records stay accurate.

When Should You Tell Us?

As early as you can. We recommend confirming holiday arrangements several weeks before each break, and even earlier for the busiest periods such as Christmas, Easter and summer. Early notice allows us to arrange the right accommodation, plan transport, liaise with the school and make sure the right welfare support is in place. Please note that changes or cancellations to booked homestay accommodation may be subject to the notice periods and charges set out in your parent contract.

Whichever option you choose, we will ask you for:

• Travel dates and flight details where applicable
• The full address where your child will be staying
• The name and contact number of the supervising adult
• Collection and transport arrangements
• Emergency contact information
• Any medical, dietary or welfare information relevant to the stay

Option 1: Staying In The UK With A Host Family

For exeat weekends and shorter breaks, many of our students stay with a British Guardianship host family. It is a genuine home away from home: students are welcomed as part of the family, join in with everyday family life, and remain fully supported by our team throughout their stay.

Parents can expect a host family to provide full-board accommodation, a safe and comfortable home, appropriate supervision, internet access, a proper place to study, and emergency support at all times.

Every host family is carefully selected and approved before any student stays with them. Our assessment includes home inspections, enhanced DBS checks for all adults aged 16 and over in the household, reference checks and ongoing monitoring, in line with AEGIS safeguarding standards.

We handle the whole arrangement for you: finding and booking a suitable host family, matching your child with the right hosts, coordinating school collections and returns, arranging airport transfers and providing support throughout the stay.

Option 2: Staying With An Adult Relative In The UK

If you have family in the UK, your child may stay with an adult relative during school holidays, provided suitable accommodation and supervision are in place.

To approve this arrangement, we will ask for the relative's full name, their relationship to your child, the accommodation address, a contact telephone number, details of supervision and how your child will travel to and from the property. Depending on your child's age, immigration status and the length of the stay, additional school, UKVI or statutory requirements may apply, and we will guide you through these where needed.

One important point for longer stays: if a student under 16 (or under 18 with a disability) stays with someone who is not a parent for 28 days or more in a row, UK private fostering rules may apply. If they do, we will explain what is required and coordinate any necessary notifications, so you do not need to navigate this alone.

Option 3: Travelling Abroad To See Family

During longer holidays, most students fly home or meet their families overseas. Before booking, please check your child's passport validity, any visa requirements for the destination, the school's exact holiday dates, and airline rules for young travellers, as some airlines have age restrictions or unaccompanied minor procedures.

We can help make the journey smooth from start to finish: assisting with flight bookings, arranging airport transfers, liaising with the school over departure and return, and providing emergency support if plans change unexpectedly. Once travel is booked, simply send us the flight details, travel dates, collection arrangements and destination details.

Option 4: Family Visiting The UK

Some families prefer to come to the UK and spend the holidays with their child here. It is a wonderful opportunity to visit the school, meet staff and see your child's life in the UK first hand.

If you are planning a visit, please check well in advance whether you need a Standard Visitor visa or ETA for EU nationals, as requirements vary by nationality. Official guidance and applications are available on the UK Government website at gov.uk/standard-visitor or gov.uk/eta. Responsibility for visa matters rests with the traveller, but we are happy to provide practical guidance around your child's arrangements.

You should also plan your accommodation, travel insurance and transport within the UK, and let us know your plans so we can liaise with the school over collection procedures. During your visit we can arrange airport transfers, advise on local transport and remain available for emergency support.

Can My Child Stay With A Friend's Family?

This is one of the questions we are asked most often, especially for weekends and shorter breaks. The answer is: possibly, but never automatically. Each request is reviewed individually, and we may ask for accommodation details, contact information, details of the supervising adults, safeguarding information and school approval where required.

Please speak to us before any commitments are made, and remember that approval of one arrangement does not guarantee approval of a future one, as every request is assessed on the circumstances at the time.

How British Guardianship Can Help

Whatever your family's plans for the holidays, we're here to help make arrangements as smooth and stress-free as possible. Our team can assist with:

• Finding and arranging suitable host family accommodation
• Organising airport transfers and travel arrangements
• Supporting students with travel, including airport check-ins where required
• Liaising with schools about departures, returns and collection procedures
• Advising on arrangements involving relatives, family friends or visiting parents
• Providing 24-hour emergency support throughout the holiday period

Frequently Asked Questions

Plan The Holidays With Confidence

A well-planned holiday means a relaxed student and a reassured parent. If you have questions about accommodation, travel, transfers or any of the options above, please contact British Guardianship as early as possible. We will be happy to talk through the most suitable arrangements for your family and make sure every stage of your child's break is safe and well organised.

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