A new approach to family court proceedings aimed at reducing delays and improving outcomes for children is to be rolled out across England and Wales, the government has announced.

The model, known as “Child Focused Courts”, has been piloted in a number of areas and will now be expanded nationwide following what ministers describe as improved case resolution times.

According to Ministry of Justice figures, cases in pilot areas were resolved up to seven and a half months faster, with court backlogs also reduced. The approach is designed to place greater emphasis on identifying risks to children at an earlier stage, including concerns such as domestic abuse, while streamlining the handling of cases.

The model also seeks to improve coordination between the courts and external agencies, including local authorities and the police, particularly where allegations of harm are involved. The intention is to reduce delays and limit the number of cases returning to court.

At present, the system operates in 10 of the 43 family court areas in England and Wales. The government has confirmed that the next phase of the rollout will include regions such as Northumbria, Lancashire, Cumbria and North Yorkshire, with further expansion planned in subsequent years.

Justice Secretary David Lammy said the changes were intended to address delays in the family justice system, stating that “court backlogs are not just numbers on a page… they represent victims waiting, families in limbo and children and domestic abuse victims left to linger in harm’s way.”

The rollout forms part of a broader programme of reform to the family justice system, including proposed changes to the Children Act 1989 and measures aimed at improving support for victims.

While the pilot results suggest improvements in efficiency, the long-term impact of the model will depend on how consistently it can be implemented across the wider court system.

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