What Child Focused Courts are, how they differ from the traditional family court process, and what to expect if your child arrangements case is heard under the new model in England and Wales.
Child Focused Courts are the new national model for private children proceedings in England and Wales, replacing what was previously known as the Pathfinder pilot. On 17 March 2026, the Ministry of Justice confirmed the rollout of the Child Focused model across all family courts in England and Wales following a successful pilot in ten court areas. If you are starting or already involved in a child arrangements case, you may be going through this process rather than the traditional FHDRA and DRA route described in older guidance.
The core difference is when and how information about the child is gathered. Under the traditional model, very little is known about a child's circumstances before the first hearing. Under the Child Focused model:
Whether your case follows the Child Focused model or the traditional process depends on which court area your case is in and when proceedings started. As of March 2026, the national rollout is underway but being phased. Courts in Wales, West Yorkshire, Birmingham and the West Midlands, Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, Dorset, and several other areas are already operating the model. Eight further English court areas are due to launch in 2026 to 2027, with full national coverage planned by the end of the current Spending Review period.
If you are unsure which process applies to your case, check the court directions you have received. The name of the first hearing will tell you which model is in use.
The Child Impact Report is a document prepared by CAFCASS or the local authority before the first hearing under the Child Focused model. It replaces the traditional CAFCASS safeguarding letter. The report draws on:
The report is provided to the court and to both parties before the first hearing. It gives the court a more complete picture of the child's circumstances from the outset than was available under the old model.
The Information and Decision Hearing (I&D Hearing) is the equivalent of the FHDRA under the Child Focused model. Because the Child Impact Report is already available, the court can use the first hearing more purposefully. The I&D Hearing is used to:
Cases that settle at the I&D Hearing can conclude significantly faster than under the traditional model. The pilot data showed cases resolved on average seven and a half months faster in areas using the Child Focused model compared with the national average.
The substantive law is unchanged. The welfare checklist under section 1(3) of the Children Act 1989, the types of orders available, the rules on parental responsibility, and the standards for making findings of fact are all the same. The Child Focused model changes the process and timetable, not the legal framework applied to the outcome.
Cases started before the Child Focused model was introduced in a particular court area will generally continue under the process they started under. If you are unsure whether the model change affects your case, check with the court.
Going through child arrangements proceedings without a solicitor is difficult, particularly when the process itself is changing. Access to Justice is built for people in exactly this position, it explains what the current process looks like and helps you prepare for each stage. Try it free.
Is the Child Focused model the same as Pathfinder?
Yes, Child Focused Courts are the renamed and nationally rolled out version of the Private Law Pathfinder model piloted since 2022. The name changed when the model moved from pilot to national standard, confirmed by the Ministry of Justice on 17 March 2026. The substantive law that applies to the outcome of your case is unchanged.
Does the Child Focused model affect financial remedy cases?
No. The Child Focused model applies to private law children proceedings, specifically child arrangements cases. Financial remedy proceedings follow a separate process and are not affected by it. If you have both a children matter and a financial matter, check the directions you receive from the court to confirm which process applies to each.
What happens if my area hasn't adopted the model yet?
Your case follows the traditional process: FHDRA, Section 7 report where directed, DRA, and final hearing if needed. Check the directions you receive from the court to confirm which hearing format applies — the name of the first hearing will tell you which model is in use. National rollout is underway but being phased.
Will CAFCASS speak to my child earlier under the new model?
Yes, one of the core features of the Child Focused model is earlier engagement with the child directly. CAFCASS aims to speak with children before the first hearing where it is safe and appropriate to do so given the child's age and the circumstances.
Does the Child Impact Report replace the Section 7 report?
The Child Impact Report replaces the CAFCASS safeguarding letter at the first hearing stage. In more complex cases, a more detailed welfare assessment may still be directed, though the intention of the model is to reduce the need for lengthy Section 7 reports in straightforward cases by gathering more information earlier.
Is the Child Focused model better for unrepresented parents?
The model is designed with litigants in person in mind, particularly domestic abuse survivors. However, some practitioners have noted that the earlier and more intensive information-gathering phase places greater demands on parties to engage clearly at the outset, which can be challenging without legal support.
This article provides legal information about child arrangements proceedings in England and Wales. It does not constitute legal advice. For advice about your specific situation, speak to a qualified solicitor.
You don't have to work this out alone. Family Court Assistant helps you understand your family court case, organise your information and work out what you need to do next, and every time you come back it remembers where you're up to.