Nursery terms and holidays

Some nurseries and childminders follow the school calendar, whilst others stay open during many of the holidays. Find out about the different holiday models, and read the latest term dates.

Overview

Nurseries and childminders in the Stirling Council area use different holiday 'models'. Depending on the model they use, they'll either:

  • open in line with the school calendar, and close when schools do
  • close less often than schools, and stay open during many of the school holidays

The different models are:

  • model 1, which is when a nursery or childminder is open for 48.2 weeks and closed for 19 days
  • model 2, which is when a nursery or childminder is open for 45.6 weeks and closed for 32 days
  • model 3/4, which is when a nursery or childminder is open for 38 weeks and closed for 70 days

If you’re unsure which model your nursery or childminder uses, and they're not listed on this page, contact them to ask.

Find contacts for nurseries in the Stirling Council area

Find contacts for childminders in the Stirling Council area

 

Model 1 nurseries and childminders

Model 1 nurseries and childminders are:

  • open for 48.2 weeks
  • closed for 19 days

Nurseries in this category include:

2025 to 2026 term dates

Autumn/Winter term

  • Term starts Monday 11 August 2025
  • Children return Wednesday 13 August 2025
  • Open during October holiday
  • Term ends Tuesday 23 December 2025

Staff development days

  • Monday 11 August 2025
  • Tuesday 12 August 2025

Festive holidays

  • Wednesday 24 December 2025
  • Friday 2 January 2026

Spring term

  • Term starts Monday 5 January 2026
  • Term ends Thursday 2 April 2026

Staff development days and local holidays

  • Monday 9 February 2026 (Staff development)
  • Tuesday 10 February 2026 (Staff development)
  • Children return 11 February 2026

Spring holiday

  • Starts Friday 3 April 2026
  • Ends Friday 10 April 2026

Summer term

  • Term starts Monday 13 April 2026
  • Term ends Friday 7 August 2026

Staff development days and local holidays

  • Friday 1 May 2026
  • Monday 4 May 2026

Summer holiday

  • Nursery open throughout summer to 48.2 week contracts only
  • Monday 10 August 2026 (Staff development)
  • Tuesday 11 August 2026 (Staff development)
  • Wednesday 12 August 2026 (Children return)

Model 2 nurseries and childminders

Model 2 nurseries and childminders are:

  • open for 45.6 weeks
  • closed for 32 days

Nurseries in this category include:

2025 to 2026 term dates

Autumn/Winter term

  • Term starts Monday 11 August 2025
  • Children return Wednesday 13 August 2025
  • Open during October holiday
  • Term ends Tuesday 23 December 2025

Staff development days

  • Monday 11 August 2025
  • Tuesday 12 August 2025

Festive holidays

  • Wednesday 24 December 2025
  • Friday 2 January 2026

Spring term

  • Term starts Monday 5 January 2026
  • Term ends Thursday 2 April 2026

Staff development days and local holidays

  • Monday 9 February 2026 (Staff development)
  • Tuesday 10 February 2026 (Staff development)
  • Children return 11 February 2026

Spring holiday

  • Starts Friday 3 April 2026
  • Ends Friday 10 April 2026

Summer term

  • Term starts Monday 13 April 2026
  • Term end - please contact individual nursery for term end date

Staff development days and local holidays

  • Friday 1 May 2026
  • Monday 4 May 2026

Summer holiday

  • Please contact individual nursery for summer closure weeks (2 weeks and 2 days within school summer holiday)
  • Monday 10 August 2026 (Staff development)
  • Tuesday 11 August 2026 (Staff development)
  • Wednesday 12 August 2026 (Children return)

Find contacts for nurseries in the Stirling Council area

Model 3 nurseries and childminders

Model 3 nurseries and childminders are open for 38 weeks and follow the same term dates as schools in the stirling council area.

Nurseries in this category include:

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