PA days and back-to-school childcare: planning for the gaps school leaves behind
The start of school can make childcare feel simpler, but it also comes with a new set of gaps to plan around.
PA days, winter and March breaks, snow days and sick days all fall on weekdays when many parents are still working. A little planning at the beginning of the school year can make those days much easier when they come around.
Here are the key dates for the 2026–27 school year for the public and Catholic school boards across Halton, Peel and Hamilton, along with a few ways to plan ahead.
What is a PA day?
A professional activity (PA) day is a weekday when students do not attend school while teachers take part in training, planning or other professional activities.
Each Ontario school board sets its own calendar, so PA days vary by region. Most boards have six or seven throughout the school year.
Key dates for 2026–27
All of the boards below start on Tuesday, September 8, 2026, with winter break from December 21 to January 1 and March break from March 15 to 19. The PA days differ by board:
Halton (HDSB, public). September 2, September 3, October 9, November 27, February 5, April 19, and June 4.
Halton Catholic (HCDSB). September 2, September 3, October 9, November 27, January 29, April 19, and June 4.
Peel (PDSB, public). September 2, September 3, October 26, November 27, January 18, February 12, and June 14.
Dufferin-Peel Catholic (DPCDSB). September 2, September 3, October 26, November 27, January 18, February 12, and June 14.
Hamilton (HWDSB, public). September 2 and September 3, with more PA days through the year. See the HWDSB school-year calendar for the rest.
Hamilton Catholic (HWCDSB). September 2 and September 3, with more PA days through the year. See the HWCDSB school-year calendar for the rest.
These are the elementary PA days. Dates can change, and secondary schools sometimes differ, so confirm against your own board's calendar.
Other days to plan for
There are a few other gaps to account for during the year:
The two-week winter break and the week of March break.
Snow days, which can come with very little notice.
Sick days, when a child cannot go to school or daycare and needs someone with them, often at short notice.
A few ways to plan ahead
Add the PA days and breaks to your calendar now, at the start of the year.
Decide with your co-parent or partner who covers which days.
Know your care options before you need them, whether that is family, a regular sitter, or flexible childcare you can book as needed.
Where tend fits
tend lets families book care for the days they actually need it. Enter your date and time, see local sitters who are available, compare profiles, rates and reviews, and book directly.
Every tend sitter has a clear Vulnerable Sector Police Check, current First Aid/CPR, verified ID and childcare references. There's no membership or ongoing commitment, so you can book one PA day, a few days over March break, or care when something unexpected comes up.
tend serves families across Halton, Mississauga, Hamilton and surrounding areas. Visit tendcare.ca and Find care to see who's available.