TPAT is using a different pattern of dates next year which creates a two week break over the October half term. This has been achieved by returning to school in September two days early and adding an additional day to the end of the summer term. We are also using two training days (which teachers will work as ‘twilight’ training). Overall, the number of days the school is open to children has not changed. We feel this pattern has a number of advantages for children and families:

1. The Autumn Term felt very long this year. We found children were tired and flagging for the final week before half term and noticed that across our Trust, pupil absence increased. We think it will be helpful therefore to lengthen the holiday in this term, ensuring children get a good opportunity to recuperate mid way through.

2. We know that families are increasingly asking us for term time holidays. In line with Department for Education guidance, we cannot authorise absence for term time holidays. We have noticed how expensive holidays are during school term times, and how much cheaper they are in other weeks. We also know that some parents find it difficult to take time off during school holiday periods. We hope that the additional week in the October half term will help families have a chance to take a more affordable holiday, and reduce the time children miss from school.

We will review this at the end of the Autumn Term in 2025 before deciding on our dates for the following year.

The dates for 2025/2026 will be:

Autumn Term: Term will start on 2nd September and the last day will be 19th December. Half term is 20th-31st October.

Spring Term: Term will start 5th January and the last day of term is 2nd April. Half term is 16th – 20th February.

Summer Term: Term will start 20th April and the last day of term is 23rd July. Half term is 25th-29th May.

The INSET days are 1st September, 24th November and 24th July