Updated 7 November 2026.
Direct answer: Term 1 2027 is reported to open on Monday 4 January 2027. Before the first lesson, a teacher should have a personal timetable, the curriculum design, a scheme of work, lesson plans and a records-of-work book ready. These come from the 18-item TSC checklist. Check your school circular for the closing date, which reports do not agree on.
When does Term 1 2027 open?
The Ministry of Education 2027 calendar was reported on 4 November. Kenyans.co.ke and Education News Hub both report that schools open on Monday 4 January 2027. We state only the opening date here. Reports give different closing dates, so use your school circular for anything after 4 January. Our 2027 calendar guide sets out what was published.
What TSC says teachers must maintain
The Teachers Service Commission publishes a form, Checklist of Professional Documents to be Maintained by Teachers (TSC/QAS/TPAD/CT-D/01/REV.1). Its introduction says all teachers "shall in the course of duty maintain professional documents and records that facilitate curriculum delivery", and that the documents "must be prepared, used, updated and maintained at all times". The form lists 18 items. It has boxes for a supervisor to check in the first, second and third month, and for the head of institution to confirm at the end of each term.
Two cautions. The copy we read carries a January 2020 file date, so confirm you are using the current form. The appraisal system has also changed since then, so read our guide to TPAD 3 changes as well.
The checklist by when you need it
| When | Documents from the TSC list |
|---|---|
| Before the first lesson | Current personal timetable; syllabi, course outline or curriculum design; approved schemes of work; updated lesson plans; lesson notes |
| From week one, kept weekly | Records of work, which the form says are checked weekly; marked learners' work and exercise books; co-curricular records |
| Through the term | Assessment records and exam analysis; learner conduct, guidance and counselling records; subject or departmental meeting minutes |
| As they happen | Appraisal and development records; professional development activities; lesson observation records; community and stakeholder involvement; ICT integration evidence; teaching aids made from local materials; individual education programmes where they apply |
The "when" column is our own grouping to make the list easier to plan. TSC does not set these time slots on the form.
A simple plan before 4 January
- Collect the curriculum design for each learning area you teach and note the strands and sub-strands for Term 1.
- Draft the scheme of work from that design. Keep it an outline you can change once you meet the class.
- Write the first two weeks of lesson plans so that the first days run smoothly. Later weeks can wait until you know the class.
- Set up the records-of-work book with dates and columns, so the Friday entry takes minutes.
- Ask the head of institution how the month-by-month checks will be done at your school.
Our guides on planning Term 1 without losing your holiday, writing a CBC lesson plan and keeping records go into more detail.
Lesson plan packs to use as a format model
Our shop sells editable Word lesson plan packs. The packs below are Term 2 packs, so they do not match Term 1 topics. They are useful as a worked example of how a full term of lesson plans can be laid out, which you can copy into your own Term 1 documents. Each is listed at KSh 100.
- Grade 4 Mathematics Term 2 lesson plans
- Grade 5 English Term 2 lesson plans
- Grade 6 Mathematics Term 2 lesson plans
- Grade 7 Mathematics Term 2 lesson plans
- Grade 7 English Term 2 lesson plans
- Grade 8 Mathematics Term 2 lesson plans
- Grade 9 Mathematics Term 2 lesson plans
- Grade 9 English Term 2 lesson plans
Check the title and grade on the product page before you buy.
Frequently asked questions
When does Term 1 2027 start in Kenya?
Schools are reported to open on Monday 4 January 2027. Check your school circular for other dates.
What professional documents must a Kenyan teacher keep?
The TSC checklist lists 18, including a personal timetable, schemes of work, lesson plans, lesson notes, records of work, assessment records and lesson observation records.
How often are records of work checked?
The TSC form says records of work, sessions and activities are checked weekly. It also has boxes for supervisors in the first, second and third month of the term.
Who confirms the documents at the end of the term?
The TSC form has a space for the head of institution to confirm at the end of each term.
Should I write the whole term's lesson plans before January?
Not necessarily. Prepare the scheme of work and the first two weeks of lesson plans, then plan later weeks once you know your learners.
Sources
- Schools to open on January 4 as Education Ministry releases 2027 school calendar (Kenyans.co.ke, 4 Nov 2026)
- 2027 school calendar Kenya (Education News Hub, updated 3 Nov 2026)
- Checklist of Professional Documents to be Maintained by Teachers (Teachers Service Commission)
CBC Edu Kenya reports published statements and is not part of TSC or the Ministry of Education. The opening date is as reported. Confirm term dates and document requirements with your school and TSC.
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