Families using supervised visitation or private child contact supervision in Cheshire and Merseyside will see changes to the way private children cases are handled in the Family Court. The Child Focused Courts model, previously known as the Private Law Pathfinder, is scheduled to launch in the area during the 2026–27 financial year.
The model is intended to identify safeguarding concerns earlier, involve children more directly where appropriate and reduce the number of hearings needed to reach a decision. Cheshire and Merseyside is among the next 8 court areas selected for the rollout, which is supported by £17 million of government funding for the financial year. The model is due to expand across the rest of England and Wales over the following years.
What Child Focused Courts change
Under the Child Focused model, important information is gathered earlier rather than being developed gradually through several hearings. Cafcass or the relevant local authority prepares a Child Impact Report to help the court understand the dispute’s effect on the child, any risk of harm and the arrangements that may best support the child’s welfare.
The approach involves closer working between the court, Cafcass, local authorities, police and specialist domestic abuse services. Children may also be seen and heard earlier where this is suitable for their age, needs and circumstances. This does not mean every case will be resolved at its first hearing, but the court should have better information when making early decisions. Understanding the journey from a court order to the first visit can help families see where supervised sessions fit into the process.
Official management information from the earlier Pathfinder pilots showed that open caseloads roughly halved in North Wales and Dorset. Average case duration in North Wales fell from 29 weeks to 18 weeks, while the Ministry of Justice reported that some pilot cases were resolved up to 7.5 months faster. These figures demonstrate the model’s potential, although individual timescales will still depend on the complexity and circumstances of each case.
Why this matters when you use supervised contact
Supervised contact may be arranged where there are safeguarding concerns, where a child is rebuilding a relationship with a parent or where a neutral and professionally supported environment is needed. Our guide explains what supervised contact is and when it is needed.
Because information is gathered earlier, accurate records from supervised sessions may become available at an important stage of the proceedings. Reports should remain neutral, factual and focused on what was observed rather than offering unsupported opinions. Both evidence from contact sessions and guidance on how contact reports are used in court decisions can help parents understand their purpose.
| Change | What it may mean for your family |
|---|---|
| Earlier Child Impact Report | The court receives information about welfare, risk and the child’s circumstances sooner |
| Earlier engagement with children | The child’s wishes and experiences may inform the process where appropriate |
| Multi-agency working | Cafcass, police, local authorities and specialist services can share relevant information |
| More focused hearings | Some cases may require fewer hearings and reach decisions sooner |
| Greater importance of early records | Clear, objective supervised-contact reports may assist the court from an earlier stage |
| Proposed repeal of the parental involvement presumption | If enacted, courts will no longer begin with the statutory presumption that parental involvement furthers welfare |
The parental involvement presumption
The Courts and Tribunals Bill would repeal the presumption of parental involvement in Section 1 of the Children Act 1989. The Bill was introduced on 25 February 2026 and, as of July 2026, remained before Parliament at Report Stage, so the repeal was not yet in force. The existing provision therefore continues to apply unless and until the legislation is enacted and commenced.
The existing law concerns parental “involvement”, which may be direct or indirect; it does not guarantee contact or any particular division of a child’s time. If the repeal takes effect, courts will consider the child’s welfare without beginning from that statutory presumption. Where a parent presents a safety risk, possible outcomes can include supervised contact in domestic abuse cases, indirect contact or no contact. The government’s announcement explains the proposal.
Decisions will continue to depend on the evidence and the child’s individual welfare. This is relevant in high conflict parenting cases and for parents using court ordered contact services for fathers.
Getting ready in Cheshire and Merseyside
Families should prepare early, attend sessions consistently and keep communication child-focused. Positive, well-documented sessions may support a future application for moving from supervised to unsupervised contact, while continuing concerns can be identified and addressed sooner.
Child Arrangement Resolutions provides safe contact sessions, objective reporting and wider child arrangement services for parents. Speak to the team about arranging supervised contact or accessing its full range of child arrangement services in preparation for the new court model.