What should be included in a parenting plan? A Complete UK Guide [2026]

Quick Summary: What You Need to Know About Parenting Plans

• What should be included in a parenting plan: Living arrangements, contact schedules, education decisions, healthcare provisions, financial responsibilities, holiday arrangements, and communication protocols
• Common challenges: Parents often struggle with agreeing on flexible arrangements, holiday schedules, and decision-making responsibilities when emotions run high
• Legal status: Parenting plans aren’t automatically legally binding in the UK, but can be made enforceable through a Consent Order
• When professional help is essential: If you’re struggling to agree arrangements, Family Law Service offers court form completion, CAFCASS prep meetings, and fixed fee legal advice
• Templates available: Cafcass (now called “Our Child’s Plan”), NACCC, and other organisations provide free templates to guide your planning
• Review mechanisms: The best parenting plans include clear processes for resolving disputes and updating arrangements as children grow

What Should Be Included in a Parenting Plan?

What should be included in a parenting plan is one of the most important questions facing separated parents across England and Wales. If you’re wondering what elements make a solid agreement that truly works for your children, you’re not alone. Creating a comprehensive plan feels overwhelming when you’re already dealing with the emotional challenges of separation.

The good news? A well-structured parenting plan doesn’t just reduce conflict, it gives your children the stability they desperately need during a difficult transition. We’ll walk you through exactly what to include, common pitfalls to avoid, and how to make sure your plan actually works in practice.

Understanding Parenting Plans: The Basics

A parenting plan (also known as “Our Child’s Plan” by Cafcass) is a written agreement between parents that sets out practical arrangements for raising children after separation. It covers where children will live, how they’ll spend time with each parent, and how you’ll make important decisions together.

Here’s something many parents don’t realise: parenting plans aren’t automatically legally binding. They’re voluntary agreements that work because both parents are committed to following them. However, you can make your plan legally enforceable by applying for a Consent Order through the family court.

“We often see parents who’ve created a basic plan but missed important details that cause problems later,” says Jess Knauf, Co-Founder of FLS. “The devil really is in the detail when it comes to arrangements that last.”

Core Elements Every Parenting Plan Must Include

1. Living Arrangements and Contact Schedule

This is the foundation of your parenting plan. You need to specify:

Where your children will live during term time and school holidays. Whether you’re opting for shared care (50/50) or one primary residence with regular contact.

The specific days and times for handovers, including pickup and drop-off locations.

Many parents find it helpful to map out a two-week schedule that repeats. For example, Week 1 might have the children with Parent A Monday to Wednesday, Parent B Thursday to Sunday. Week 2 reverses the pattern.

Be realistic about what works with school, work commitments, and your children’s activities. A plan that looks great on paper but ignores practical realities will fail quickly.

2. Holiday and Special Occasion Arrangements

What should be included in a parenting plan regarding holidays often trips parents up. You need clear agreements about:

Summer holidays (typically split equally or in agreed blocks). Christmas and New Year arrangements. Easter breaks and half-term holidays.

Birthday celebrations for each child. Mother’s Day and Father’s Day. Religious festivals and cultural celebrations.

Consider alternating arrangements. One parent has Christmas Eve and Christmas Day in even years, the other in odd years. This prevents the same arguments recurring annually.

3. Education Decisions and School Matters

Your parenting plan should address:

Which school your children attend (primary and secondary). How you’ll handle school choice if you disagree. Who attends parent-teacher meetings (ideally both). How you’ll share information about school progress and issues.

Who receives school reports and how they’re shared. Arrangements for school events, trips, and activities.

4. Healthcare and Medical Decisions

What should be included in a parenting plan for healthcare covers several areas:

Which GP surgery and dentist your children are registered with. How you’ll share information about medical appointments. Who can consent to routine medical treatment. The process for making decisions about non-routine healthcare.

Emergency contact protocols. How you’ll handle situations when one parent isn’t available.

Both parents with parental responsibility have equal rights to make healthcare decisions. Your plan should reflect how you’ll exercise those rights cooperatively.

5. Financial Responsibilities and Child Maintenance

Money matters need crystal-clear agreements:

Statutory child maintenance payments (use the CMS calculator as your starting point). Who pays for school uniforms, trips, and equipment. How you’ll split costs for after-school clubs and activities.

Pocket money arrangements. Mobile phone contracts and subscriptions. Extraordinary expenses like private tuition or special equipment.

“Financial disputes poison co-parenting relationships faster than anything else,” Jess explains. “Having these details nailed down prevents most arguments before they start.”

6. Communication Between Parents

This often-overlooked element is crucial. Your parenting plan should specify:

How you’ll communicate (text, email, phone, co-parenting apps). How quickly you’ll respond to messages about the children. What constitutes an emergency requiring immediate contact.

Boundaries around communication times. How you’ll share photos and updates. Protocols for introducing new partners.

Keep communication businesslike and child-focused. Many parents find co-parenting apps like OurFamilyWizard helpful for maintaining clear records.

7. Contact with Extended Family

Don’t forget about grandparents, aunts, uncles, and other important people in your children’s lives. Include:

Arrangements for children to see grandparents and extended family. Whether contact with extended family counts as time with that parent. Holiday arrangements involving wider family.

8. Decision-Making Responsibilities

What should be included in a parenting plan around parental responsibility depends on your situation. You need to define:

How you’ll make major decisions together (education, healthcare, religious upbringing). What counts as a “major decision” requiring joint agreement. What each parent can decide independently. Dispute resolution processes when you can’t agree.

If one parent will have sole decision-making in certain areas, this should be explicit.

9. Review and Modification Procedures

Children’s needs change as they grow. Your plan should include:

When and how often you’ll review arrangements (annually is common). The process for proposing changes. How you’ll handle disputes about modifications. Circumstances that trigger an automatic review.

10. Dispute Resolution Mechanisms

Even the best parenting plans need a backup plan:

What you’ll do if disagreements arise. Whether you’ll use mediation or another form of ADR. The process before either parent considers court applications. Contact details for mediators or professionals you’ve agreed to consult.

What Makes a Parenting Plan Actually Work?

Creating the document is one thing. Making it work is another.

Keep it child-focused. Every decision should come back to what’s best for your children, not what’s most convenient for you or most punishing to your ex-partner.

Be specific. Vague terms like “reasonable contact” cause endless arguments. “Every other weekend from Friday 6pm to Sunday 6pm” leaves no room for interpretation.

Build in flexibility. Life happens. Include provisions for how you’ll handle schedule swaps, emergencies, and unexpected changes.

Write it down. Verbal agreements are worthless when memories differ. Everything should be documented clearly.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Parents often create parenting plans that look comprehensive but have critical gaps:

Not planning far enough ahead. Summer holidays sneak up quickly. Plan at least three months in advance.

Ignoring transportation logistics. Who drives? Where are handovers? What if someone’s running late? These mundane details cause massive stress if undefined.

Making it too rigid. Plans that allow zero flexibility breed resentment and don’t serve children’s changing needs.

Forgetting about school inset days. These surprise days off work can cause chaos without clear agreements.

Not involving the children. Age-appropriate input from your children (especially teenagers) makes plans more likely to succeed.

Making Your Parenting Plan Legally Binding

Once you’ve agreed on what should be included in a parenting plan, you might want legal enforceability. Here’s how:

Apply for a Consent Order. This costs a court fee but doesn’t usually require court attendance. Both parents must agree to the terms. Once signed by a judge, the order becomes legally binding.

If you go to court because you can’t agree, the court will ask to see any previous parenting plans you’ve tried. The form C100 (application for a Child Arrangements Order) specifically requests this information.

FAQs About Parenting Plans

Is a parenting plan legally binding in England?

Not automatically. A parenting plan is initially a voluntary agreement between parents. You can make it legally binding by applying for a Consent Order through the family court, which typically costs around £50 in court fees. Once approved by a judge, breaching the order has legal consequences.

Can I change our parenting plan later?

Yes, parenting plans should evolve as your children grow and circumstances change. If it’s a voluntary agreement, both parents simply need to agree to modifications. If it’s a Consent Order, you’ll need court approval for changes unless both parents agree and want to document the variation formally.

What happens if the other parent doesn’t follow our parenting plan?

If it’s a voluntary plan, your options are limited to discussion, mediation, or applying to court for an enforceable order. If it’s already a Consent Order and one parent consistently breaches it, the other can apply to court for enforcement. Document all breaches carefully. Family Law Service can advise on your specific situation.

Do I need a solicitor to create a parenting plan?

No, many parents create effective parenting plans using free templates from Cafcass or Divorce Circle. However, professional help ensures you haven’t missed crucial details and can save money long-term by preventing disputes. Family Law Service offers fixed fee legal advice to identify potential problems.

Should our parenting plan include screen time and discipline?

This depends on whether you and the other parent have very different parenting styles. Some parenting plans include general principles about consistency in rules, bedtimes, and discipline. However, trying to micromanage every aspect of parenting in different households often backfires. Focus on major issues that affect your children’s wellbeing.

Can grandparents be included in a parenting plan?

Absolutely. If grandparents play a significant role in childcare or your children have close bonds with them, including them in your parenting plan makes sense. You can specify arrangements for grandparent contact, whether it counts as time with that parent, and how decisions involving grandparents are made.

Final Thoughts

What should be included in a parenting plan varies by family, but the core elements we’ve covered create a solid foundation. The most successful plans are detailed enough to prevent common disputes but flexible enough to adapt as life changes.

Remember that creating a comprehensive parenting plan isn’t about “winning” or protecting your interests. It’s about giving your children the stability, consistency, and access to both parents they need to thrive despite the separation.

If you’re unsure whether your plan covers everything, or if you need help preparing for court or CAFCASS meetings, Family Law Service is here to support you with practical, affordable services.