May 7, 2026
Scotland is on the brink of a long-awaited return to the FIFA World Cup and to celebrate this, Monday 15th June 2026, has been officially designated as a one-off extra bank holiday in Scotland.
Great news for fans. A bit more complex for employers.
It’s important to be clear from the outset, there is no automatic legal right for employees to take bank holidays off. Whether your nursery closes, or who works, will depend on contracts, policies and custom and practice. That makes early, HR-led planning essential.
Review contracts and policies
Check staff contracts early. Do they clearly state how bank holidays are treated? Ambiguity here creates risk, particularly around pay, leave entitlement and expectations.
Decision time – stay open or close?
Nurseries don’t have the same flexibility as other businesses. If you close, working parents may struggle to find alternative childcare. If you stay open, you’ll need enough staff to meet legal ratios. Make a clear decision as early as possible to give both staff and parents time to plan.
Plan your staffing carefully
If remaining open, there may be an increase in annual leave requests. Consider how you will manage this? Will you approach it as a first come first-served approach or by limiting the number of staff leave requests from the start?
Communicate clearly and consistently
Once a decision is made, communicate it. Be transparent about whether you’re open, how staffing will be managed. Clear early communication will help avoid confusion and complaints later down the line.
Think about consistency across settings
If you operate more than one nursery (especially across the UK), be aware that this is a Scotland only holiday. Align your approach where possible or by clearly explaining differences to avoid confusion.
With the right approach, this doesn’t have to be disruptive. It’s an opportunity to demonstrate fair decision making, strong communication, and proactive workforce planning.
Because while the country may pause for football, in nurseries, preparation is always the real game plan.
If we can be of any assistance with any aspect of employment law do give us a call on 01527 909436.
Wishing Team Scotland the best of World Cups!
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