When is mid-term break? All you need to know as October holidays approach

Students across the country returned to schools this month despite much disruption caused by the coronavirus pandemic.

However after months of work students were able to return to school more or less at the same time they usually would in other years.

And now with nearly a month of classes under their belts students will be gearing up for their first break of the year as mid-term approaches.

Here's everything you need to know.

When is this year's mid-term break

As usual primary and secondary schools will both get their Halloween mid-term break at the same time.

This year Halloween falls on Saturday October 31 so students will be off for the week starting from Monday October 26 to Friday October 30.

Will there be any changes this year?

The Department of Education has not made any changes to the school calender this year despite disruption from the pandemic.

A number of schools have been forced to close their doors temporarily due to confirmed cases however its unlikely students and teachers will be asked to make up that time.

At present there are also no plans to shut schools again as they did back in March when the virus first hit however if parts of the country reach level 5 restrictions its possible that could change.

Doctor's thoughts on Halloween

Halloween will be a damp squib if Dublin or other parts of the country move to Level 4, a respected GP has revealed.

Dr Maitiu O Tuathail warned that it won’t be safe for parents to bring their kids trick or treating if Covid-19 cases continue to rise in the capital.

The GP, who runs a busy surgery in Ranelagh, told the Irish Mirror: “Things could be different in four weeks. More counties could be going into lockdown.

“There’s a possibility that Dublin could be moved to Level 4.”

While it’s uncertain whether traditions such as trick or treating could go ahead at Level 3, Dr O Tuathail revealed it would not be possible at Level 4.

He added that Cork, Galway, Louth, Waterford and Limerick are also areas for concern at the moment and that the current situation is “not going in the right direction.”