Planning Child Arrangements for School Holidays after Separation

School holidays can be one of the most difficult areas for separated parents to manage.

Easter, summer and Christmas breaks, along with all the half-terms in between, all disrupt routine and often come with competing expectations on both sides.

In our experience, the lack of planning for appropriate holiday arrangements is usually the main cause of the issues.

Sorting out holiday contact early

Parents often focus on the next break coming up, without looking at the year as a whole, leading to repeated disagreements, last-minute decisions and unnecessary stress for everyone involved.

We have found that arrangements typically work better when parents plan and discuss all school holidays in one go, well in advance.

When it comes to deciding the plans for your children over the school break, there is not really a right or wrong answer.

The main things are that the arrangements take into account the welfare and best interests of the children, feel fair and make sense for both parents and the children.

Some parents like to split holidays evenly throughout the year so that the children can spend time with each parent and their extended family. Others rotate their arrangements annually.

However, we also know that these are not viable options for every parent, depending on family dynamics, work commitments or other personal circumstances.

If the children are old enough, it can be helpful to include them in the conversations so they can express their views in where they would like to spend their time.

Why is flexibility so important for holiday child arrangements?

While having a schedule for the break is important to make sure the children are cared for, parents also need to be prepared with contingency plans.

Even the best-laid arrangements can be affected by illness, changes to work schedules, travel disruption or family events.

A willingness to be flexible sets a positive tone for co-parenting.

For instance, if one parent is unexpectedly asked to go on a work trip during a week they were due to have the children, the other parent may be able to step in and help and rearrange their child care plans.

That kind of cooperation is often remembered when the roles are reversed, whether during the summer holidays, Easter, a half-term break or at Christmas.

What can you do if you cannot agree on arrangements for the holidays?

Sometimes, despite trying, parents cannot reach an understanding.

Mediation can be a solution to help resolve the dispute with the help of a neutral third-party professional. Alternatively, if mediation does not work, solicitors can assist in negotiating terms.

Where necessary, a parent may also apply to the court for a Child Arrangements Order. Our solicitors can help with this process.

However, parents are always encouraged to try alternative methods of dispute resolution before approaching the Courts.

Advice for grandparents and visiting or spending time with their grandchildren during the holidays

The Grandparents Association reports that around 42 per cent of British grandparents lose contact with their grandchildren when parents separate.

Some of the most common reasons for this loss of contact are relocation and unresolved family disputes.

While grandparents do not have an automatic legal right in England to see their grandchildren, the courts recognise how important these relationships can be for the child’s upbringing.

Grandparents can offer children a sense of steadiness and warmth at a time when family life may feel unsettled.

If informal efforts to reconnect do not lead anywhere, our solicitors can help with writing to the parent or guardian to open up communication.

Mediation is another way to encourage constructive conversations and rebuild trust.

If these options do not resolve matters, applying to the court may be necessary, although permission from the court is required before taking that step.