Child Focused Courts Roll-Out 2026: What It Means for London Families

Child Focused Courts London Families 2026: What It Means

The Child Focused Courts 2026 roll-out is one of the most significant reforms to the family justice system in years, and it directly affects how child arrangements disputes will be handled across London and the rest of England and Wales. On 17 March 2026, Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy confirmed that Child Focused Courts, formerly known as Pathfinder Courts, will expand from the current 10 court areas to all 43 court areas in England and Wales over the coming financial years. In this article, we explain what the change means, what the new process looks like, and why it makes family mediation in London a more important first step than ever before.

If you are currently dealing with a child arrangements dispute in London, whether over where children should live, how much time they spend with each parent, or how to handle schooling and holidays, this reform is worth understanding. The good news is that the new model actively encourages families to resolve matters without going to court where they safely can. That is where we come in.

What Are Child Focused Courts?

Child Focused Courts are a reformed approach to private law children’s cases in the family courts. Rather than the traditional model, where parents attend a series of hearings to argue their positions over many months, the Child Focused model takes a problem-solving approach from the outset. The court, Cafcass (the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service), local authorities, and other agencies work together early in the process to understand the child’s situation and identify any risks, including domestic abuse.

The centrepiece of the model is the Child Impact Report. This is produced by a Cafcass family court adviser or a social worker, who meets with the children involved in the case early on. The report gives the court a clear picture of how the dispute is affecting the child, what the child wants and feels, and whether there are any safeguarding concerns that need immediate attention.

The model was originally known as the Private Law Pathfinder and was piloted from February 2022 in family courts in North Wales and Dorset. By March 2026, it had expanded to 10 of the 43 court areas, covering all of Wales, Birmingham, the West Midlands, Hampshire, the Isle of Wight, and West Yorkshire. The results from those pilot areas were striking enough to trigger the full national roll-out.

Why Is the Government Rolling It Out Nationally Now?

The evidence from the pilot areas made a compelling case. Cases in Child Focused Court areas were resolved up to seven and a half months faster than in standard family courts. Court backlogs in pilot areas more than halved, and professionals reported that families experienced fewer hearings, better identification of domestic abuse risk, and less likelihood of returning to court because an arrangement had broken down.

Sir Andrew McFarlane, President of the Family Division, described the approach as “truly groundbreaking” and said the national roll-out would be a “game changer” for the family justice system. The Family Mediation Council (FMC), in its response to the announcement, welcomed the news, noting that the model’s success in reducing backlogs and improving outcomes for children was consistent with the FMC’s long-standing view that children’s welfare is best served by earlier, less adversarial resolution.

The roll-out is backed by £17 million in government funding for 2026-27. The first eight new court areas to adopt the model in this financial year are Northumbria and North Durham, Cleveland and South Durham, Lancashire, Cumbria, York and North Yorkshire, Cheshire and Merseyside, Northamptonshire, and Coventry and Warwickshire. London family courts will follow in subsequent financial years as the roll-out progresses across the rest of England and Wales.

What Does the Child Focused Courts Process Look Like?

The Child Focused model changes the structure of private law proceedings in several important ways. Here is how the process works under the new model:

Step 1: Early information gathering. When an application for a Child Arrangements Order is made (typically via a C100 form), the court immediately requests a Child Impact Report from Cafcass or the local authority. This replaces the standard safeguarding letter and provides far more detail about the child’s circumstances.

Step 2: Child Impact Report. A Cafcass adviser or social worker meets with the children involved, as well as both parents, before the first court hearing. The report produced from these meetings tells the court what is happening for the child, what the child wants, and whether there are any safeguarding concerns, particularly around domestic abuse.

Step 3: First hearing, informed by the report. Because the court already has detailed information about the family before the first hearing, that hearing can be used more productively. In cases where domestic abuse has been identified, the court can determine at this stage whether a fact-finding hearing is needed. Where it is safe to do so, parents are supported to reach an agreement, and this is where attending a MIAM in London and entering mediation becomes a very practical option.

Step 4: Multi-agency problem-solving. Throughout the process, the court works closely with Cafcass, the local authority, domestic abuse specialists, and other relevant agencies. This joined-up approach is designed to resolve the underlying issues, not just make a legal ruling, so that families are less likely to return to court further down the line.

Step 5: Faster resolution. Fewer hearings, better early information, and a focus on agreement where safe all combine to significantly reduce the time families spend caught up in court proceedings.

What Does This Mean for London Families Right Now?

Understanding Child Focused Courts London Families

London’s family courts, including the Central Family Court at Holborn and the various Principal Registry offices, are not yet among the first wave of areas to receive the full Child Focused Courts model. The immediate expansion covers court areas in the North East, North West, and East Midlands. However, London families are likely to see the model implemented during 2027-28 at the latest, as the roll-out proceeds across the rest of England and Wales.

That said, the announcement has important implications for London families dealing with child arrangements disputes right now, for two main reasons.

The direction of travel is clear: court is a last resort

The Child Focused Courts model is built on the principle that, where it is safe to do so, parents should be supported to resolve disputes without going through a full court process. That is the same principle that underpins family mediation. The government’s decision to invest £17 million in this approach confirms that the family justice system as a whole is moving towards earlier, less adversarial resolution of disputes involving children.

For London parents currently facing a child arrangements disagreement, this makes it worth thinking seriously about mediation before taking any formal legal steps. Our Ultimate Guide to Child Arrangements gives a full overview of the options available and how mediation fits into the process.

The MIAM requirement remains, and matters more than ever

Before making a court application for a Child Arrangements Order, parents in England and Wales are generally required to attend a Mediation Information and Assessment Meeting (MIAM). This has been a legal requirement under the Children and Families Act 2014 for over a decade, and it remains firmly in place. With the Child Focused Courts model placing even greater emphasis on non-court resolution, the MIAM is not just a legal box to tick. It is a genuine opportunity to explore whether mediation can resolve the dispute before it reaches a judge.

At London Mediation Service, we offer MIAMs from our offices in Waterloo, St Pancras, and Sutton, as well as online. Many London parents who come to us for a MIAM find that mediation is possible and, in most cases, a faster, less stressful, and considerably less expensive route to an arrangement for their children than going to court.

How Does Child Focused Courts Relate to Domestic Abuse Cases?

One of the most important aspects of the Child Focused Courts model is its approach to domestic abuse. The model requires early, coordinated identification of domestic abuse risk from the outset of a case, rather than leaving it to surface gradually over multiple hearings. Cafcass or the local authority will explore safeguarding concerns at the Child Impact Report stage, and the court will determine early on whether a fact-finding hearing is needed.

It is important to note that where there is domestic abuse, mediation is generally not appropriate. Family Mediation Council accredited mediators are trained to identify domestic abuse risk and will not progress to joint mediation where it would be unsafe to do so. There are also specific MIAM exemptions available to people who have experienced domestic abuse, meaning they do not need to attend a MIAM before making a court application. If this applies to your situation, please speak with a solicitor or contact us and we can point you in the right direction.

The Child Focused Courts model’s emphasis on early risk identification is widely welcomed by domestic abuse charities and legal professionals. Dame Nicole Jacobs, the Domestic Abuse Commissioner, said the model has shown that when children are put first, victims feel more supported and the risk of re-traumatisation is reduced.

What About the Courts and Tribunals Bill?

Alongside the Child Focused Courts announcement, the government also confirmed that the Courts and Tribunals Bill will repeal the presumption of parental involvement currently contained in the Children Act 1989. This is a significant change. At present, the law includes a presumption that a child’s welfare is generally served by both parents being involved in their life. The removal of this presumption is designed to shift the focus away from parental rights and towards the individual child’s safety and wellbeing in every case.

This legislative change is expected to have a particular impact on cases where domestic abuse is alleged, as the presumption of parental involvement has sometimes been used in ways that campaigners argue have prioritised contact over safety. The welfare checklist under Section 1 of the Children Act remains unchanged, and the child’s welfare will continue to be the court’s paramount consideration.

The Case for Mediation in London, Given These Changes

The Child Focused Courts reform reinforces something we have always believed at London Mediation Service: that children’s arrangements are best reached by parents themselves, with skilled support, rather than imposed by a court. Mediation gives both parents the space to focus on what their children need, rather than on winning an argument. Agreements reached through mediation tend to last longer and be reviewed more easily as children’s needs change over time, something a court order can struggle to accommodate without further applications.

For London families, the practical benefits of mediation are particularly clear. London’s family courts are among the busiest in the country. Even without the pressure of court backlogs, the process of making a court application, attending hearings at the Central Family Court in Holborn or other London courts, and waiting for a resolution can take many months. Mediation, by contrast, can often begin within weeks, with sessions held at our Waterloo or St Pancras offices, or online.

If you are in the early stages of a child arrangements dispute, it can be helpful to get some legal advice to understand your position before or alongside mediation. Our colleagues at Family Law Service offer fixed-fee legal guidance that works well alongside the mediation process, giving you the knowledge to make informed decisions without committing to full solicitor representation.

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