If you have an interest in understanding the day to day of schools in England - from the school calendar and holidays to school uniforms - we recommend you read his article!

Starting from the school year, which runs from the beginning of September to mid-July, the academic year in the UK differs from many other countries, where the school year follows the normal calendar year - January to December.

The school holidays are spread out throughout the academic year: the longest holiday period is over summer (approximately 6 weeks of holidays), followed by Christmas and Easter breaks (2 weeks each), and there are the â??half termsâ?? (one week off school) which happen during the academic year, marking the transition of the seasons and dividing the school year in 3 terms - Autumn, Spring, Summer term.

Now, moving on to the school uniforms. Most uniforms in England are slightly â??formalâ??, with a white shirt and tie, but they are quite comfortable and very cute indeed! Each school has their own uniform store, which will have the complete school uniform with the school logo on it. But you can also find standardised pieces like summer dresses, skirts, shorts and trousers in most department stores, helping to keep the cost of uniform down. For private schools the uniform may need to be purchased directly from the school store, according to the discretion of each particular school.

The school day usually runs between 9 am to 3:30 pm, with variations for schools that offer wrap around care (breakfast and after school clubs). Punctuality is extremely important in the UK - mainly when it comes to schools. If your child is late you are likely to receive a text or notification from the school, to remind you of the importance of arriving on time! And absences need to be justified by the parents (with doctor notes sometimes) and authorised by the school. Taking your child off school during term time is taken very seriously in the UK, and too many unauthorised absences can result in the school taking the parents to court, where they can receive a fine or even a sentence.

Punctuality and attendance are closely monitored by the schools and government, and all children must attend school between the ages of 5 and 16 (compulsory school age).

Schools tend to praise children for their efforts and encourage further achievements using several methods: stickers, certificates, notes in their diary, and even a note in the school news letter, highlighting something positive that is worth sharing with the whole school!

During the day, children move around the school for classes that they attend outside of their classroom such as music, coding, PE, languages or for their daily assemblies. They tend to move around in a very organised manner, and older children will usually help the younger ones, teaching them not only some discipline but also being caring to others.

They also have lunch in the school hall, and all schools will provide a hot meal, cooked in the schoolâ??s kitchen, or give the alternative for children to bring their own packed lunch from home, mainly in cases of food allergies or intolerances.

The schools in the UK place a lot of emphasis on reading. Such wonderful feature deserves a separate blog - keep an eye on the upcoming articles!