Pathfinder Review 2026: A Step Forward for Children, But Gaps Remain for Survivors
Written by Emma Cordock, Director (Manchester and North of England) – Children Law, Cartwright King Solicitors
The Private Law Pathfinder Pilot was introduced to address long-standing concerns about how the family courts handle child arrangements cases, particularly those involving domestic abuse. Piloted in Dorset and North Wales, Pathfinder set out to do things differently: put children at the centre, reduce harm to survivors, work more collaboratively across agencies, and resolve cases more quickly.
A new Ministry of Justice evaluation, published today (January 2026), explores what Pathfinder has meant in practice for children and families themselves. The findings offer hope but also underscore how much work remains.
Putting Children’s Voices at the Centre
One of Pathfinder’s clearest strengths is how it listens to children.
Many children interviewed for the evaluation described positive experiences speaking with Cafcass or Cafcass Cymru officers. They felt listened to, taken seriously, and given space to share their views in child-friendly ways. Parents, too, valued the Child Impact Report (CIR), which documents children’s wishes and experiences early in proceedings.
For families who had previously been through the old Child Arrangements Programme (CAP), this represented a real improvement. Children were more visible in the process, and their voices were captured more consistently.
However, the report also highlights a crucial gap: being heard does not always mean being reflected in decisions. Some children were left confused or distressed when outcomes did not align with their wishesand when no clear explanation was given. The message is clear: listening to children is vital, but so is explaining how their views are used.
Domestic Abuse: Progress, but Uneven Protection
Pathfinder was designed to reduce the re-traumatisation of domestic abuse survivors, and in some respects, it has succeeded.
Many survivors welcomed being spared mediation, accessing specialist domestic abuse services, and (in some cases) benefiting from special measures such as separate waiting areas or remote hearings. Compared with CAP, several mothers described Pathfinder as safer and more supportive.
Yet the experience was far from consistent. Some survivors reported feeling dismissed or disbelieved by professionals, including judges. Special measures and DASH risk assessments were not applied reliably, and attending court itself remained deeply distressing for many.
The report makes clear that trauma-informed practice is not yet embedded across the system. Survivors repeatedly emphasised how powerful it is simply to be believed and how damaging it is when they are not.
Faster Decisions, but at What Cost?
Pathfinder has largely succeeded in delivering a more efficient court process. Most parents felt cases moved more quickly than under CAP, often concluding within a few months.
For many families, this was a relief. Long court battles take an emotional toll on both parents and children.
However, some domestic abuse survivors felt the pace was too fast particularly at early hearings leaving them little opportunity to fully explain their experiences. Efficiency, the report suggests, must be carefully balanced against the need for safety and voice.
Multi-Agency Working: Still the Weak Link
A central ambition of Pathfinder is better collaboration between courts, Cafcass, local authorities, police, and domestic abuse services. While early information gathering improved, many parents said safeguarding concerns still fell through the cracks.
Information was not always shared consistently, and serious worries about abuse, neglect, or risk were sometimes downplayed or not acted upon. The promise of a genuinely joined-up system remains, for many families, unfulfilled.
The Missing Follow-Up
Perhaps the most widely shared frustration in the evaluation concerns the review stage. Families were often told their case would be checked after the final order but in reality, this rarely happened.
For survivors dealing with unsafe or unworkable arrangements, the lack of follow-up left them feeling abandoned. Parents repeatedly described a need for a simple check-in: someone to ask whether orders were working and whether children were safe.
What Does This Mean Going Forward?
The Pathfinder Pilot shows what is possible. Children’s voices are stronger. Cases can move faster. Specialist support makes a difference.
But the evaluation is equally clear that culture, consistency, and communication must improve if Pathfinder is to succeed nationally. In particular:
- Children need better explanations about outcomes.
- Trauma-informed practice must be standard, not optional.
- Multi-agency working needs to move from aspiration to reality.
- Families need meaningful support after court, not just before it.
Pathfinder is a step in the right direction but this report makes clear that reform is not finished. For children and families navigating the most difficult moments of their lives, how the system listens, believes, and follows up matters just as much as how quickly it reaches a decision.
Need Advice on Child Arrangements? If you are navigating the family court system or need advice on child arrangements and domestic abuse, our specialist Family Law team is here to help. We understand the importance of your child’s voice and your safety.
Contact Cartwright King today for a confidential discussion on 0345 894 1622 or request a call back online
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All advice is correct at time of publication.
