The Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service (Cafcass) has recently launched a new initiative called Planning Together for Children on behalf of the Ministry of Justice. The goal of this initiative is to help parents prioritise the needs of their children during separation and divorce. It replaces the ‘Separated Parents Information Programme’ (SPIP) which any parent who has been through the court process regarding their children will likely be familiar with.

The initiative offers a range of tools and resources to assist parents in developing a plan that works for their family, with the hope of getting families out of the court process at the earliest opportunity. This includes providing information about the legal process surrounding separation and divorce, understanding and managing emotion, and looking at things from a child’s point of view. 

One of the key aspects of Planning Together for Children is its emphasis on collaboration between parents. The initiative encourages parents to work together to create a plan that takes into account the unique needs of their children. This can include issues such as where the children will live, how much time they will spend with each parent, and how important decisions will be made.

There are three key stages: 

1. E-learning modules 
2. A group workshop 
3. An online parenting plan, which parents can go through together to agree on important parts of their co-parenting relationship. By focusing on the needs of the children, Planning Together for Children aims to minimise the impact of separation and divorce on children and help parents create a positive co-parenting relationship. 

Find out more about the Planning Together for Children programme here - https://www.cafcass.gov.uk/2023/04/03/cafcass-launches-planning-together-for-children-on-behalf-of-the-ministry-of-justice-to-help-parents-to-prioritise-their-childrens-needs-during-separation/

If you would like to complete a parenting plan with your co-parent to agree on how you will parent together and important decisions regarding your child’s website, you can download our interactive parenting plan here.

If you would like advice and support regarding your divorce and making arrangements for your children contact the specialist team of Family Lawyers at Neves Solicitors. We offer an initial Fixed Fee meeting which gives you an hour with a specialist family lawyer - click on the link below to find out more. Call 0330 0945 500, email family@nevesllp.co.uk  or complete our Contact Form and we'll get back to you.