🍂 Autumn half-term: the perfect time to catch up on early gaps

The autumn half-term is coming up quickly: in 2026, it runs from Saturday 17 October to Monday 2 November for all three zones. That’s just over two weeks after seven weeks of school. Your child is tired, and you may be wondering whether to get them to revise… or just let them rest.

The best answer: a bit of both. Half-term is the ideal time to fill in any early gaps, precisely because they’re still small. Just a few focused minutes are enough. Here’s how to do it, without turning the holidays into homework.

Why revise a little (not a lot) during autumn half-term

Since the start of term, the teacher has laid the foundations for the year: reading is becoming more fluent, numbers are getting bigger, and the first grammar rules are being introduced. If something isn’t understood, it becomes the base for the next topic. For example, mixing up tens and units in September can turn into a real problem with written calculations by December.

At half-term, these gaps are still small. They’re easy to spot and can be fixed in just a few sessions. Waiting until Christmas or February only lets them grow.

But tiredness is real, especially for younger children. The main aim of the holidays is still rest: sleep, free play, fresh air. So, revising during autumn half-term should be short, light and focused.

Step 1: review with the daily workbook

Before revising, you need to know what to revise. No need for a test: everything is already in the school bag.

• Look through the daily workbook together (or the maths and French books). Check the teacher’s corrections, repeated exercises, and comments.
• Ask your child: “What was easy? What did you find tricky?” Children often know exactly where they’re stuck.
• Read over the teacher’s comments in the communication book or report. If you met them at the start-of-year meeting, their feedback is a great starting point (see questions to ask the teacher).

Keep this review positive, highlighting what’s gone well first. It’s not a test—it’s a treasure map.

Step 2: pick just 2 or 3 topics, no more

This is the golden rule. Trying to cover everything will only bore your child and nothing will stick. Choose two or three specific points, for example:

• reading letter teams (sh, ee, oa) in CP (age 6-7);
• doubles and number bonds to 10 in CE1 (age 7-8);
• times tables from 2 to 5 in CE2 (age 8-9);
• subject-verb agreement or large numbers in CM1-CM2 (ages 9-11).

A clear topic can be worked on in a few minutes and checked easily. “Revise maths” is too vague. “Know number bonds to 10 without counting on fingers” is perfect.

Step 3: keep it light—15 to 20 minutes in the morning

In the morning, after breakfast, attention is best and the rest of the day is free. A short session is better than a long one: stop before your child loses focus.

These are just general guidelines—feel free to adjust them to suit your child. Make sure to leave some days completely free, especially at the start of the holidays and around 1 November.

Sample schedule: revising during the autumn half-term over 2 weeks

Here's an example to adapt to your family and any trips you might have:

• Arrival weekend: complete rest, plus a quick 10-minute look through the workbook.
• First week: 3 or 4 short mornings focusing on topic no. 1 (for example, making 10). Explain, practise, play.
• Mid-holiday: a complete break for a few days. Outings, family time, building a den with autumn leaves.
• Second week: 3 or 4 mornings on topics no. 2 and 3, plus a quick recap of topic no. 1 to check it's still there.
• Last weekend: tidy the school bag together and get bedtime routines back on track. No revision.

Going back over a topic a few days later helps it stick—much more effective than cramming everything at once.

Revising without it feeling like work: autumn games and activities

In primary school, lots of revision can be done through play and everyday life:

• In the kitchen: weigh out flour for a pumpkin cake, double a recipe, read the list of ingredients.
• On a walk: count conkers in groups of 10, make up riddles using words from the day.
• At home: a 5-word 'challenge' spelling test where your child marks their own work, or a times tables battle with a pack of cards.
• To remember a rule: a funny phrase or a picture works better than repetition. Our Big Book of Memory Tricks brings together these kinds of tips from CP to CM2.

What to avoid during the autumn half-term

• Long sessions 'to catch up': after 20 to 30 minutes, your child gets tired and starts to see the holidays as a chore.
• Getting ahead on the curriculum: that's not what holidays are for, and it can be confusing if the teacher's method is different.
• Revising late in the evening or just before an exciting outing: your child's attention won't be there.
• Comparing with a sibling or friend: everyone learns at their own pace.

If the same difficulty keeps coming up despite your efforts, just mention it to the teacher when school starts again. You might also find inspiration in our article on helping your child regain confidence at school.

An adventure activity book every morning, with no prep needed

No time to create your own exercises? Kidibook's 31-Day Adventure offers a themed activity book each morning, matched to your child's class, from Kindergarten to CM2. It's free, no subscription needed: all you need is a printer or a tablet—perfect for two weeks of holidays. Want to see what it's like first? Download the free PDF sample, no sign-up required.

Two weeks of rest, a few well-chosen mornings, and your child will return in November with stronger foundations. That's all you need from the autumn break.