Parenting Plan
Parenting after separation can be challenging. Emotions may be high, communication may be strained, and it can sometimes be difficult to agree on what is best for your child.
Parenting Plan
At C4F (Centre for Families), we believe that children thrive when there is clarity, consistency, and cooperation around their care.
Our Parenting Plan service helps parents create practical, child-focused agreements about how contact will take place, reducing uncertainty and giving everyone a clear way forward.
What is a Parenting Plan?
A parenting plan is a written agreement between parents that sets out how they will share responsibility for their child’s care.
When and how the child will spend time with each parent.
Arrangements for school holidays, birthdays, and special occasions.
How parents will communicate about the child’s needs.How parents will communicate about the child’s needs.
Practical details such as travel, pick-ups, or handovers.
Agreements about education, health, or other key decisions.
While not legally binding, parenting plans can carry weight in court and are often recognised as a positive step towards cooperative parenting.
Why Parenting Plans are Helpful
Parenting plans bring a number of benefits, including:
Clarity for children — helping them understand what to expect and reducing anxiety about change.
Structure for parents — setting out clear arrangements avoids confusion and reduces the potential for conflict.
Focus on the child — shifting discussions away from disagreements and towards the child’s wellbeing.
Flexibility — plans can be adapted as children grow and family circumstances change.
For many families, a parenting plan provides peace of mind and helps lay the foundation for more positive co-parenting.
How We Help at C4F
At C4F, our experienced team support parents in developing plans that are realistic, fair, and always focused on the child’s best interests. We:
- Facilitate open, constructive conversations between parents.
- Help identify the child’s needs and how these can best be met.
- Work with both parents to find practical solutions to common challenges.
- Provide guidance on how to make the plan clear, detailed, and workable.
Our approach is not about taking sides — it is about supporting both parents in creating a framework that works for the child.
Who Can Use the Service?
The Parenting Plan service is available to:
- Parents referred by courts, solicitors, or CAFCASS.
- Parents referred by social workers or local authorities.
- Parents who approach us directly (self-referral).
Whether your situation is complex or relatively straightforward, we adapt our support to suit your needs.
A Positive Step Forward
We understand that separation and
co-parenting can be difficult.
But having a clear plan in place helps reduce conflict, ease uncertainty, and give children the stability they need.
At C4F, we see parenting plans as a positive step forward — a way for parents to work together, even in difficult circumstances, to show their child that they remain cared for and supported by both parents.
Parenting Plans at C4F are about clarity, cooperation, and putting children first.
