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TL;DR: Spring Term 2026 (generally 5 January – 27 March in UK schools) brings a focused academic stretch after the winter break, including a mid-term break in February, increased assessment windows for older year groups, evolving curriculum expectations, and ongoing workforce pressures in schools. Educators should plan for workload peaks, embed wellbeing strategies early in term, and align classroom practice with emerging national guidance and planning cycles. performancelearningcoaching
Written By: Pip N
Most UK schools resume January 5, 2026 and finish March 27, 2026, with a one-week mid-term break in mid-February. performancelearningcoaching
Planning your term around these benchmarks helps you pace curriculum delivery, marking cycles, and reports.
Note: Exact dates will vary by region and individual school. Always confirm with your setting’s calendar.
While the National Curriculum for England remains the statutory foundation for key stages, there’s been increasing emphasis on coherent sequencing — especially oracy, literacy, and numeracy — to strengthen learning progression. Education Hub+1
Here’s what that means for you:
Spring term often brings:
Teacher recruitment and retention remain a systemic challenge in the UK, with vacancy rates historically high — particularly in secondary settings. National Audit Office (NAO) This can impact staffing flexibility and workload distribution.
Humly tip: Use your subject teams or year-group leads to co-ordinate shared planning and reduce duplication.
The mid-February break isn’t just a pause — it’s a strategic buffer where:
Take advantage of this week to set up support structures for post-break momentum.
Inset days (teacher training days when learners aren’t in class) are often placed before or after key term points to:
Check your school’s local inset schedule to plan CPD blocks that align with your teaching objectives.
Changes in early years funding and statutory requirements for local authorities are taking effect in 2026 — meaning clearer timelines for funding rates and better planning certainty for childcare and early education settings. GOV.UK
Consider reviewing your budget planning with these timelines in mind.
Spring Term 2026 generally runs from early January to late March, with a mid-term break in February. Exact dates vary by local authority and individual school or nursery.
Spring Term often brings increased workload, assessments, and behaviour management demands following the winter break. It’s also a period where fatigue can build before the lighter pace of summer.
For many educators, yes. Spring Term is more compressed and often includes key assessment points, making time and workload management particularly important.
Spring Term commonly includes progress checks, internal assessments, and preparation for later external exams. The exact focus depends on year group and setting.
Setting clear routines early, planning ahead for peak weeks, and using support where available can help reduce pressure. Small adjustments made early in term often prevent burnout later.
It can. Shorter daylight hours, higher workload, and fewer natural breaks mean wellbeing needs more intentional focus during Spring Term.
Yes. Spring Term is often when educators reflect on what’s working and begin planning for later in the academic year or the next one, without immediate pressure to act.
Spring Term offers a chance to reset routines, embed progress from Autumn, and build momentum that carries through to the end of the academic year.
