On the 17 March 2026, the government announced that Child Focused Courts, previously known as Pathfinder Courts, will be expanded across the whole of England and Wales. At the moment, Child Focused Courts only operate in 10 of the 43 court areas in England and Wales. There has been a highly successful trial period in several areas which saw family court backlogs halve and cases being resolved a lot faster. It is hoped that this roll out will mean that thousands more children will receive quicker justice and be better protected. This is widely viewed as an “game changer” for the family justice system with the view that the pathfinder approach is groundbreaking.
The current situation with Child Focused Courts
Presently it often takes many months, and sometimes years, for cases to be resolved through the family courts, despite the push for alternative dispute resolution (mediation) to be used. Some cases are simply not suitable for mediation and involve parents who need a judicial decision to regulate matters concerning their children. When this occurs the decision needs to be made without the current unacceptable delays.
What will change?
The key change is the Child Impact Report which is produced by CAFCASS.
CAFCASS represents the interests of children in the family court and as social workers, they independently advise the family courts about what is safe for children, and what is in their best interests.
As the Child Impact Report will be done at the outset of the matter it enables the court to gain a very early understanding of the impact that the dispute is having on the children involved. These reports also frontload information about each child’s circumstances. This model applies a more investigative and problem-solving approach with earlier information gathering and engagement with parties, rather than through a series of multiple hearings. It also encourages a more holistic and multiagency approach ensuring communication between the family court and other agencies, such as Local Authorities and the Police, particularly when dealing with allegations of domestic abuse. This lack of a joined up approach has been a constant problem for those involved in children cases and has led to serious delays in many of them.
The approach by government
Deputy Prime Minister and Justice Secretary David Lammy said:
“Court backlogs are not just numbers on a page. When it comes to the family courts, they represent victims waiting, families in limbo and children and domestic abuse victims left to linger in harm’s way.
That is why the national roll out of the Child Focused Courts matters so much. It will protect, support and hear the voices of children, helping family courts to make safe and fair decisions without delay.
It also shows that, through innovative reforms, we can make our courts work better, tackle delays and bring down the backlog so more victims and families get the swift justice they deserve”.
This move follows some other key changes proposed which are designed to protect victims of violence and abuse, including the Courts and Tribunal Bill to repeal the presumption of parental involvement appearing in the Children Act 1989. This will move away from the idea of the rights of parents and instead focus on the child’s safety, which is exactly the way it should be.
How Moore Barlow can help
As specialists in family and divorce law, the team at Moore Barlow is supportive of this new and innovative approach, which is long overdue.
If you would like to discuss your situation with a family specialist you can contact Louise Barretto who is a Legal Director in the Moore Barlow family team by email on [email protected] or by calling 020 8334 0311
