Are Nurseries Open On Bank Holidays

Bank holidays should be simple. Everyone gets a day off, and you spend it doing something nice. But for parents who rely on nursery childcare, a bank holiday can quietly become a logistical puzzle. Will the nursery be open? Do you still have to pay? And what do you do if you need cover?

Here is a clear breakdown of how nurseries handle bank holidays in the UK, what the rules say about fees, and how to make sure you are never caught off guard.

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Are Nurseries Open on Bank Holidays in the UK?

The short answer: most nurseries close on bank holidays, but there is no law that forces them to.

There is no law that forces nurseries to close on bank holidays, so each setting creates its own policy. Some follow school term patterns and close automatically. Others run year-round but still close on all public holidays. A smaller number stay open on certain bank holidays to support families who work in sectors that do not stop for public holidays.

All year round nurseries cater primarily to working parents and generally only close for one week a year between Christmas and New Year, and on bank holidays.

So if your nursery operates year-round from Monday to Friday, the most likely outcome is that it closes on all eight bank holidays in England each year, and stays open for the rest.

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Which Days Are Bank Holidays in England?

England and Wales have eight bank holidays per year. Here are the confirmed dates for 2025 and 2026:

2025 Bank Holidays (England)

• New Year's Day: Wednesday 1 January
• Good Friday: Friday 18 April
• Easter Monday: Monday 21 April
• Early May Bank Holiday: Monday 5 May
• Spring Bank Holiday: Monday 26 May
• Summer Bank Holiday: Monday 25 August
• Christmas Day: Thursday 25 December
• Boxing Day: Friday 26 December

2026 Bank Holidays (England)

• New Year's Day: Thursday 1 January
• Good Friday: Friday 3 April
• Easter Monday: Monday 6 April
• Early May Bank Holiday: Monday 4 May
• Spring Bank Holiday: Monday 25 May
• Summer Bank Holiday: Monday 31 August
• Christmas Day: Friday 25 December
• Boxing Day: Monday 28 December (substitute day)

If your child attends on Mondays, six of the eight bank holidays in a typical year fall on days that could affect you directly. It is worth marking these dates in your calendar at the start of each year so nothing sneaks up on you.

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Do You Still Pay Nursery Fees on Bank Holidays?

This is where parents often get a surprise. Here is why.

Around 4 in 10 nurseries charge for bank holiday closures even if they do not open. This is because their costs, including staff pay, premises, and other running expenses, do not disappear just because the doors are closed.

Nurseries are able to charge on the days when they are closed due to bank holidays. Whether yours does depends entirely on the terms of your contract.

There are three common approaches nurseries take:

Charge as normal. Fees apply on bank holidays even when the nursery is closed. Your monthly invoice stays the same regardless of how many bank holidays fall in that month. This is the most common arrangement for nurseries on fixed monthly billing.

Average fees across fewer weeks. Many nurseries average the cost over fewer weeks to account for days the nursery is closed. If a nursery averages costs over 48 weeks, this leaves four weeks per year that you do not pay for, which takes bank holidays into account. Reductions are already built into your standard monthly payment.

Deduct bank holidays from your invoice. Some nurseries remove bank holiday days from your bill each month. You pay less in months with bank holidays, and more in months without. This approach is less common but does exist.

The only way to know which model your nursery uses is to read your contract carefully before signing.

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What Little Mowgli Nursery's Policy Says

At Little Mowgli Nursery in Leyland, the approach to bank holiday fees is set out clearly in the terms and conditions. Fees are payable when the nursery is closed for bank holidays, and parents agree that there will be no deductions or refunds where the nursery is closed for bank holidays.

This is the standard arrangement used across the nursery sector. It keeps fees predictable and consistent month to month, and it means parents always know what to expect rather than receiving variable invoices.

If you have questions about Little Mowgli Nursery's specific closure dates or how bank holidays affect your child's individual schedule, the team recommends contacting the nursery directly. You can reach them at hello@littlemowgli.com or on 01772 974084.

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Why Do Nurseries Charge for Days They Are Closed?

It feels counterintuitive to pay for a service you are not receiving. Here is the reasoning behind it.

Nurseries have fixed costs that run throughout the year regardless of attendance. Staff are entitled to paid leave under UK employment law. Under the Working Time Regulations 1998, workers receive a minimum of 5.6 weeks' paid holiday per year. Nurseries must honour this entitlement whether or not a child comes through the door that day.

If a nursery is closed on a public holiday, it can include public holidays as part of the statutory 28 days or 5.6 weeks holiday entitlement for staff. Either way, the payroll obligation does not pause. Neither do rent, insurance, utilities, or food supplier agreements.

The fee model is not about charging for nothing. It is about maintaining a consistent, staffed setting that is ready to open again the next working day. Nurseries that do not charge for bank holidays typically offset this in other ways, such as slightly higher daily or weekly rates.

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What If You Need Childcare on a Bank Holiday?

If you work on a bank holiday and your nursery is closed, you will need to plan ahead. Here are your main options:

Family and friends. Grandparents, other relatives, or trusted friends are the go-to for most families on bank holidays. If this is a regular need, it is worth establishing an arrangement well in advance rather than scrambling the week before.

Childminders. Some childminders do work on bank holidays, often for an enhanced rate. If you need bank holiday cover regularly, it is worth asking childminders in your area when you are searching for care whether they offer this.

Holiday clubs and camps. Nursery holiday clubs and camps offer a variety of activities for children during bank holidays and school holidays. Your child does not necessarily have to be enrolled at the nursery during term time in order to attend a holiday club or camp. These can be a good option for children aged three and over.

Flexible or emergency nursery sessions. A small number of nurseries do stay open on some bank holidays, particularly around Easter and the summer bank holiday. These are often larger childcare groups or nurseries that specialise in flexible care for parents with irregular working patterns. It is worth ringing around your local area if this is a regular need.

Next steps: Contact your nursery at the start of the year and ask for a full list of closure dates. Most settings publish these in advance, and having the full picture early means you can sort cover without any last-minute stress.

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How to Check Your Nursery's Bank Holiday Policy

Before you sign a nursery contract, or if you are already enrolled and unsure of the rules, here is what to look for:

• Read clause by clause. Look for any mention of "bank holidays," "public holidays," or "closures" in your contract. The key questions are: Does the nursery close on all eight bank holidays? Are fees still charged during closures?
• Ask about averaging. If the nursery charges a flat monthly fee, ask whether bank holidays are already factored into that figure or whether they are charged as additional days.
• Get closure dates in writing. Request a list of planned closure dates for the full year. Most nurseries provide this at the point of registration or at the start of each academic year.
• Check the refund position. If your nursery does close and you would like to know whether you can swap sessions or book additional days in other weeks, ask the management team. Many nurseries won't allow you to change your day because of bank holiday closures, and if you want to book an extra session, you'll usually pay for the bank holiday day and an extra cost for the additional session.

A Note on Government-Funded Childcare Hours

If your child receives government-funded childcare hours, bank holidays affect how those hours are delivered across the year.

The government's funded entitlement is calculated across 38 weeks of the year (term time) for most settings. Bank holidays that fall within term time are typically counted as non-delivery days for funded hours. Your setting should account for this when drawing up your child's funding schedule. If you are unsure how this works in your specific case, ask your nursery manager to walk you through the funding calendar.

For families accessing 15 or 30 funded hours through the government's expanded childcare offer, the same principle applies. Bank holidays do not reduce your overall entitlement. They simply shift the schedule for how those hours are spread across the year.

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FAQs: Nurseries and Bank Holidays

Q: Are nurseries legally required to close on bank holidays in the UK? 

No. There is no law that requires nurseries to close on bank holidays. Each setting sets its own policy. Most private day nurseries close on all eight bank holidays in England, but some remain open for families who need cover when they are working.

Q: Do I have to pay nursery fees on bank holidays if my child can't attend? 

This depends entirely on your contract. Many nurseries charge full fees on bank holidays even when closed, to cover their fixed costs including staff pay. Some average fees across fewer weeks so the cost is spread throughout the year. Always check your contract before signing.

Q: What should I do if I need childcare on a bank holiday in the UK? 

Plan ahead. Ask your nursery early in the year for a full list of closure dates. If you need cover on bank holidays regularly, look into childminders who offer bank holiday sessions, local holiday clubs, or family support. Some nurseries that specialise in flexible care do stay open on certain bank holidays.

Q: How many bank holidays are there in England in 2026? 

There are eight bank holidays in England in 2026: New Year's Day (1 January), Good Friday (3 April), Easter Monday (6 April), Early May Bank Holiday (4 May), Spring Bank Holiday (25 May), Summer Bank Holiday (31 August), Christmas Day (25 December), and Boxing Day, observed on Monday 28 December.

Q: Does Little Mowgli Nursery in Leyland close on bank holidays? 

Little Mowgli Nursery closes on bank holidays. Fees remain payable during bank holiday closures in line with the nursery's terms and conditions, which is standard practice across the nursery sector. Contact the nursery directly at hello@littlemowgli.com or on 01772 974084 for a full list of planned closure dates.

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