Practical information, not legal advice. Every family’s circumstances are different; no schedule or organisational approach suits everyone.

Confirm the dates for your child’s school

Start with your child’s school calendar and the relevant education authority’s published dates. Check pupil-free days, term start times and any school-specific variations. Do not assume every school or state follows the same timetable.

Put the last school day and the first day back in your shared calendar. Add public holidays separately because they may affect work, childcare and transport even when they do not change the school break.

Map the holiday arrangement onto actual dates

Use the arrangements relevant to your family; this guide does not decide how holidays should be divided. Write the start and end of each block, the changeover point and any exception to the regular schedule.

Be explicit about whether “the first week” begins after school on the last day of term, the next morning or another agreed point. Check how the normal pattern resumes afterwards.

Make travel plans clear

Record the relevant dates, destination, transport details and practical contact information. Discuss changes through the communication arrangements appropriate for your family. If travel raises questions about permission, documents or existing arrangements, get appropriate advice; practical calendar planning is not a substitute.

Check that departure and return times fit the agreed changeovers, and identify the time zone when it matters. Keep booking information accessible in an appropriate record rather than relying on an old message.

Plan activities and everyday care

  • Map work commitments and any holiday childcare.
  • Record activities, booking dates and who handles transport.
  • Check equipment, clothing and other items needed in each home.
  • Keep agreed shared costs with their receipts or invoices.
  • Leave room to discuss practical changes before confirming them.

Our shared child expenses guide helps organise the costs of activities and care without making assumptions about financial responsibility.

Include special occasions

Birthdays, public holidays and family occasions may overlap with a holiday block. Record any agreed adjustment with a time and place. Do not assume an annual occasion automatically changes the arrangement.

Check the return to the usual routine

Before school resumes, confirm the next changeover, school supplies, appointments and regular activities. Review the schedule planning checklist if routines have changed.

SplitParent’s calendar and parenting schedules keep holiday dates visible alongside everyday commitments, while communication records keep the context together.