Term Dates

At South Grove Primary School we actively discourage parents from taking their children out of school for holidays during term time.

To help parents plan their holidays please see the term dates below.

In line with DfE instructions, South Grove Primary School will not authorise any holiday taken during term time. All absence from school due to holidays will be noted as unauthorised absence.

13 Apr 2026
to
20 Jul 2026

SUMMER TERM 2026
17 Jul 2026

School finishes for pupils on at 2:30pm
20 Jul 2026

STAFF TRAINING DAYS (CLOSED TO CHILDREN)
2 Sep 2026
to
18 Dec 2026

AUTUMN TERM 2026
2 Sep 2026
08:00 to 16:00

STAFF TRAINING DAY (CLOSED TO CHILDREN)
3 Sep 2026
08:45

SCHOOL STARTS FOR YEARS 1 -6 PUPILS
9 Sep 2026
08:45

RETURNING NURSERY START BACK
26 Oct 2026
to
30 Oct 2026

HALF TERM WEEK (AUTUMN)
2 Nov 2026

STAFF TRAINING DAY (CLOSED TO CHILDREN)
18 Dec 2026

School finishes for pupils on at 2:30pm
4 Jan 2027
to
25 Mar 2027

SPRING TERM 2027
4 Jan 2027

STAFF TRAINING DAY (CLOSED TO CHILDREN)
15 Feb 2027
to
19 Feb 2027

SPRING HALF TERM HOLIDAY
12 Apr 2027
to
22 Jul 2027

SUMMER TERM 2027
12 Apr 2027
08:45

SCHOOL STARTS FOR ALL PUPILS
3 May 2027

MAY DAY BANK HOLIDAY
31 May 2027
to
4 Jun 2027

SUMMER HALF TERM HOLIDAY
20 Jul 2027
14:30

School finishes for pupils on at 2:30pm
21 Jul 2027

STAFF TRAINING DAY (CLOSED TO CHILDREN)
22 Jul 2027

STAFF TRAINING DAY (CLOSED TO CHILDREN)

Adding dates to your calendar

Subscribing via Outlook

Follow the relevant instructions below, using the feed address https://www.southgrove.waltham.sch.uk/ical.ics

Outlook Office (desktop) (section: Add internet calendars)
Outlook.com (section: Subscribe to a calendar)
Outlook via a web browser (section: Subscribe to a calendar)

Subscribing via Google

On your computer, open Google Calendar
On the left, next to "Other calendars" click 'Add' followed by 'From URL'.
Click this button to copy the feed address to your clipboard and paste it into the 'URL of calendar' field
Click 'Add calendar'. The calendar will appear on the left side under "Other calendars"

It might take up to 12 hours for changes to show in your Google Calendar.

Subscribing via iPhone

Click this link and click 'Subscribe' in the popup message

TERM TIME LEAVE

Parents are strongly discouraged from taking their children out of school for long periods of time.

Family holidays or trips abroad must be taken in the school holidays. The Headteacher can only authorise absence, in exceptional circumstances. In such cases, parents should submit a ‘Leave of Absence Request Form’ in advance and only make bookings if leave is granted. Whether to grant leave is at the discretion of the Headteacher. There is no right for a parent to appeal a decision.

We have compiled this list of frequently asked questions to provide some guidance.

Have I the right to take my child on holiday in term-time when I wish?

No. Schools have the discretion to grant leave of absence in other exceptional circumstances, but it will not automatically be granted.

How will the time away be recorded?

It will be an authorised absence if agreed by the school. If it is not agreed by the school, it will be recorded as unauthorised absence, and could result in a penalty notice being issued.

Can holiday leave be granted retrospectively?

No.

What happens if we don’t return on the agreed date?

The absence will be unauthorised. Your child's place at the school may be at risk. Admissions and the Education Welfare Service will be informed and a fixed penalty notice may be issued.

What happens if my child is removed from the school’s roll?

You must contact the Waltham Forest Admissions Service on 020 8xxxxxxxxxxx for advice and information on enrolling your child in another school.

Is there a right of appeal against a decision to remove from the school’s roll?

No, schools are legally entitled to take this course of action.

What is the Penalty Notice fine for term time leave?

New amounts for education-related penalty notices will come into force on 1 September 2012. The Education (Penalty Notices) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2012 increases the current amounts of penalty notices payable by parents from 1 September 2012. These will apply to any parent who fails to ensure the regular attendance of their child of compulsory school age (5-16) who is registered at a state school or fails to ensure that their excluded child is not found in a public place during schools hours without a justifiable reason. The amounts stated on the penalty are £60 per parent within 21 days. Days 22-28 the fine increases to £120 per parent. If the fine is not paid within this timescale legal action will commence with a referral to court. Costs can escalate to £1000 plus.