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School term & holiday dates

Here you will find information on all term dates and school closures for Northumberland.

Welcome videoSchools - Coronavirus (COVID-19)Planned school closures - teacher training daysSchool term datesUnplanned school closures

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Welcome videoSchools - Coronavirus (COVID-19)Planned school closures - teacher training daysSchool term datesUnplanned school closures

Welcome video

Watch our welcome video where Jill, School Admissions and Inclusion Manager, talks about how this page can help you to find out what you are looking for.

School term dates and holidays

Schools - Coronavirus (COVID-19)

The latest information about schools in Northumberland affected by Coronavirus (COVID-19).

This information was last updated on 21 April 2020.

  • Schools have been closed since Friday 20 March to all children except those with key worker parents or carers, and the most vulnerable children.
  • Key workers include NHS staff, police and delivery drivers who need to be able to go to work. Please click here for a detailed list of key workers.
  • Vulnerable children include those who have a social worker and those with educational health and care plans.
Please click here to view our news report, issued 18 March 2020.

Major changes were announced for schools from the end of the school day on Friday 20 March and for the foreseeable future. If children can stay safely at home, they should, to limit the chance of the virus spreading. This is why the government has asked parents to keep their children at home, wherever possible, and has asked schools to remain open only for those children who absolutely need to attend.

It is important to underline that schools, all childcare settings (including early years settings, childminders and providers of childcare for school-age children), colleges and other educational establishments, remain safe places for children. But the fewer children making the journey to school, and the fewer children in educational settings, the lower the risk will be that the virus can spread and infect vulnerable individuals in wider society.

In line with Public Health England's guidance, the best place for your child, wherever possible, is at home with you, helping to maintain good social distancing for our wider community.
 
The government has confirmed that schools will close to all pupils except the children of key workers (such as NHS staff) and vulnerable children (such as those with a social worker and children with Education Health Care Plans) and published new guidance about who a key worker is.

PLEASE NOTE: Each school may handle this situation differently based on demand, in order to ensure the welfare of all staff, support workers, and children.

 

Click on the drop down boxes below to find the answers to some of your school related COVID-19 questions:

The vast majority of schools in Northumberland will remain open for the children of key workers or the most vulnerable children.

All schools are contacting parents and carers to understand how many children and young people will be attending school as from Monday 23rd March onwards. We are working with each of our schools to ensure that there is enough staffing in place to support and work with children and young people and that school meals will continue to be available. If your child receives transport to school from the council, then they will continue to do so.
 
If you are not clear on what is happening with your child, please get in touch with your school to find out more.
The guidance from government says that parents and carers should do everything they can to ensure children are not mixing socially in a way which can continue to spread the virus and should observe the same social distancing principles as adults.

Although your local school is likely to be open for vulnerable and key worker children, all other children must stay at home. If your child is not in this category and turns up at school on Monday, they will be sent home.

Please click here for the Northumberland School Closure List.
For any children currently entitled to school transport (who are children of key workers or the most vulnerable children), this will run as normal and will be continually reviewed
 
If there are any issues with the school transport in the coming days please report it to the contact centre on 0345 600 6400.
The latest guidance states that children are better off at home, however the vast majority of schools are remaining open to look after children of key workers and the most vulnerable children. 

There are no fines for parents, including key workers and parents of vulnerable children, who choose to keep their children at home during this period. This is a parental choice. 

This information was last updated 1 April 2020.

Provision is being put in place to ensure that children receiving free school meals do not suffer unnecessarily, now that the government has closed schools. 
 
The vast majority of schools in Northumberland are remaining open to look after children of key workers or the most vulnerable children. 
 
Schools were asked to identify their vulnerable students, so that the required level of support could be identified.  All schools are making their own arrangements with the support of the Northumberland County Council school meals service. 
 
Guidance has now been received on the National Free School Meals Voucher Scheme:

Please click here to see the guidance for schools on free school meals.

The scheme outlines that if a school catering service cannot provide meals or food parcels, they should offer pupils from families that are eligible for benefits-related free school meals an alternative.
 
We are continuing to accept free school meal applications at this time. If you think your child is eligible but you are not currently claiming, you can contact us on 0345 600 6400 (Monday-Thursday 8.30am-5pm, Fridays 8.30am-4.30pm), or apply by submitting this application form:

Please click here to view the free school meals application form.
This concern relates particularly to isolated communities with poor internet connections. 

Schools are reviewing methods of supporting students across the country. The vast majority have learning platforms and students/parents will be enabled to access these if they have Wi-Fi. If they do not, work can be printed and distributed to children and young people.

Both national and local resources are being shared for children to maintain learning. 

Planned school closures - teacher training days

The following documents provide information regarding planned teacher training days and closures.

Please note teacher training days are subject to change and are updated regularly.

School closures – teacher training days (special schools)

School closures – teacher training days

School term dates

Welcome to the school holiday term dates page. Here you will find information on school dates for holidays, teacher training days and unplanned school closures.

Northumberland school holiday and term dates 2019/2020
Please note, some schools have allocated their own term dates.
You should also check your school's website.
 
Holiday or occasion of closure Date on which school will close Date on which school will reopen
     
Teacher training day Monday 2 September 2019  
Summer 2019 Friday 19 July 2019 Tuesday 3rd September 2019
Teacher training day Monday 4 November 2019  
October half term 2019 Friday 25 October 2019 Tuesday 5 November 2019
Christmas/New year 2019/2020 Friday 20 December 2019 Monday 6 January 2020
Teacher training day Friday 21 February 2020  
Spring half term 2020 Friday 14 February 2020 Monday 24 February 2020
Easter 2020 Friday 3 April 2020 Monday 20 April 2020
May Day 2020 Friday 8 May 2020  
Summer half term Friday 22 May 2020 Monday 1 June 2020
Summer 2020 Friday 17 July 2020 Tuesday 1 September 2020

View the links below to download PDF versions of the school term dates.
If an authorised absence request is granted, it will be the headteacher's responsibility to determine the length of time a child is absent.

Authorised absence is unlikely to be granted for family holidays.
Parents/carers can be fined for taking a child on holiday during term time without consent.

Further information regarding term-time absence can be found here.

 

Unplanned school closures

Should we be informed of any of schools closed due to weather, building problems or other local reasons they will appear below.

Unplanned school closures will appear here: 

Link to Northumberland  School Closure List


Please also follow our alert social media channels for information on unplanned school closures when the school has informed us of a problem. We also recommend that you also check with the individual school via their website, Social media pages and parent mail.


Details of school closures are also given on:

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