A pilot scheme that was designed to help spare families from drawn-out proceedings regarding child matters is now being rolled out nationwide over a three-year period.
Formerly known as Pathfinder Courts, ‘Child Focused Courts’ were first implemented in 2022 and are currently live in 10 court areas including all of Wales, West Yorkshire, Birmingham and the West Midlands, and Hampshire and the Isle of Wight. The trial period has been considered highly successful across several areas which saw family court backlogs halve and cases resolved up to seven and a half months faster.
The model involves a social worker from the independent Children and Family Court Advisory Support Service (Cafcass) meeting children and parents before a case gets to Court. A Child Impact Report is produced by Cafcass which enables the Court to gain an early understanding of the impact the dispute is having on the child and focus the parties on how to address that. By front loading the information about a child’s circumstance, parties are better positioned to reach an earlier conclusion.
Over the 2026-27 financial year, the Child Focused Courts will be rolled out in the following eight court areas:
- Northumbria and North Durham;
- Cleveland and South Durham;
- Lancashire;
- Cumbria;
- York and North Yorkshire;
- Cheshire and Merseyside;
- Northamptonshire; and
- Coventry and Warwickshire.
What this means for families
The rollout of Child Focused Courts represents a shift toward prioritising a child’s voice earlier and reducing delay. This will be particularly important for families where there are potential safeguarding concerns as these can be identified and addressed sooner. For parents involved in child proceedings, this approach should require proactive engagement with assessments earlier on in proceedings and a stronger emphasis on resolution.