Christmas school holidays Edinburgh 2020: when schools break up for Xmas - and date they go back in January

This is when the Christmas break is this year, including other important school dates
Students will be eagerly looking forward to the Christmas break (Shutterstock)Students will be eagerly looking forward to the Christmas break (Shutterstock)
Students will be eagerly looking forward to the Christmas break (Shutterstock)

Christmas is only a few weeks away, and the mania of the festive season is already starting to settle in.

Shoppers have been scrambling to buy their Christmas presents, people are putting up their trees and supermarkets are well-stocked with stocking fillers.

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As well as preparing for a Christmas season like no other, there’s something else to look ahead to - the end of the school term in Scotland.

Students are rightfully looking forward to the break for a chance to wave goodbye to an academic year like no other.

In what has been an unprecedented situation, their education has been drastically changed due to the coronavirus pandemic.

After nearly five months out of school during the first nationwide lockdown, most students in Scotland went back in August.

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Since then, the Scottish Government has made keeping education facilities open a top priority, and despite some areas entering into strict local restrictions, schools have stayed open.

Schools are still to enter the Christmas break as normal - here’s when that is for Edinburgh.

When are the school Christmas holidays in Edinburgh?

Last day of term: Tuesday 22 December.

Start of Christmas holiday: Wednesday 23 December.

End of Christmas holiday: Tuesday 5 January.

New spring term in 2021: Wednesday 6 January.

Schools set their own start and finish times, so contact your child’s school directly to find out what time the last day of term ends.

It is also useful to contact your child’s school if you’re unsure of dates.

What are the restrictions for the Christmas holidays?

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Currently, Edinburgh is under Level 3 of the local protection levels set by the government.

But as restrictions are being eased between 23 to 27 December, Edinburgh residents will be able to form a Christmas bubble of up to three households to see their families over those few days.

However for the rest of the time there is no household mixing permitted under Level 3.

Even if Edinburgh moves into Level 2, more lenient restrictions do not allow households to meet in homes, although a maximum of six people, from two households, can meet in a public place and that does not include children under 12 years old.

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This means if Edinburgh moved into Level 2 in time for the Christmas break, festive family dinners in restaurants could be possible.

Can families go on holiday during Christmas?

The Scottish Government has said, to suppress the spread of Covid-19, it is essential that there is “no travel to or from areas where higher numbers of people may be carrying the virus”.

While international travel to and from Scotland is not banned per se (as it is in England), travellers arriving from certain countries overseas may be required, by law, to quarantine by self-isolation for 14 days after arrival.

The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) continues to advise against all but essential travel to many countries and territories on the basis of Covid-19 risks.

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Festive staycations for those living in Edinburgh are also off the cards, as people in a Level 3 area should not be travelling to another area in Scotland.

Even if Edinburgh moves into Level 2, the government has advised against any unnecessary journeys between areas in different levels, especially to Level 3 and 4 areas.

The government has also asked people to avoid unnecessary travel between Scotland and England, Wales or Northern Ireland.

When are the school holidays in 2021?

With a coronavirus vaccine now on the horizon, 2021’s school term could be more normal than what has played out this year.

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Edinburgh City Council has already published dates for next year’s school holidays.

Spring mid term will take place from Monday 8 February to Monday 15 February.

The Easter holiday will be from Friday 2 April to Monday 19 April, with schools going back on Tuesday 20 April.

Pupils will get days off on 3 May for May Day, 4 May for a staff-only day and 24 May for Victoria Day.

And the summer holidays will take place from Friday 25 June.

Hopefully, families will be able to go on holiday and take trips by then.