Katie Spooner | Source | Partner & Head of Family - Winckworth Sherwood at Winckworth Sherwood

There have been reports in the media and anecdotally of some parents refusing to facilitate their children spending time with the other parent as a result of the pandemic. This is clearly appropriate where a child or live-in family member is unwell and/or showing the symptoms of the virus. In which case, parents could take advantage of the abundance of technology available to facilitate alternative, indirect contact between a parent and their child. Crucially, however, social distancing and even self-isolation does not mean that the arrangements you have in place for your children should fall away. These arrangements, whether informally agreed between parents or set out in a court order, remain effective and should continue to be followed. Indeed, taking children from one home to another is a legitimate journey according to Cafcass and government guidelines. Therefore the lack of clarity in the current government guidance should not be used as an excuse to undermine arrangements for children that are in place.