Cover all
the angles
Read more articles in: Blog, Family Law, Stuart Daniel
1 April 2026
The Easter holidays have just begun and many separated parents are getting a glimpse into how their child arrangements work outside of the usual school routine.
You may find the arrangements more manageable for the shorter Easter break, but the longer summer holidays mean there is more to discuss with your ex-partner and challenges may arise.
You might be questioning what days you will spend with your child, how childcare will work around your job, who bears the cost of childcare and whether you can take your child on holiday.
The summer holidays will be here before we know it and mediation could be the solution you have been looking for to iron out any issues and clarify your child arrangements.
School term times can give your routine a bit more predictability and you may already have weekday patterns and established agreements in place that work well.
However, the arrival of the holidays can disrupt this and you may find the division of time unfair or you may be taking on more childcare than expected.
Disagreements can also arise around the costs of activities, trips or holiday clubs.
Sometimes the change in routine can create confusion around handovers and there may be additional factors to consider, such as involving extended family in care and your child’s own wishes.
We know it is not always easy to come to an agreement on your child arrangements and mediation is an effective solution when discussions cannot be made or reach a standstill.
Mediation provides a neutral space where both parents can talk openly and are guided by a trained professional who keeps discussions constructive.
This dedicated time will give you the chance to discuss your holiday schedules, travel arrangements, childcare responsibilities, how costs will be shared and any other issues you have.
A mediator won’t look to impose decisions or take sides.
Instead, they focus on helping families reach an agreement that works for everyone.
Many families find mediation to be a more cost-effective, efficient and less stressful alternative to court proceedings.
The process allows you to keep decision-making in your hands, encourages a more cooperative approach to coparenting, reduces conflict and focuses on your child’s needs and wellbeing.
Sometimes, agreements that are reached through mediation are more successful in the long run, as they have been created together and not imposed on you.
You do have that added flexibility with mediation, as sessions can take place in person or remotely and older children may be given the opportunity to share their views.
Child arrangement discussions can be tough and it can be tempting to put them off and hope things will fall into place.
However, the countdown for the summer holidays is on and leaving your arrangements to the last minute can put your family at risk of tension and disagreements.
Mediation gives you a better chance of reaching an agreement and means your child will know what their holidays will look like.
Our team can work in conjunction with experienced mediators to help guide you through the process and support you in reaching a fair agreement.
For further advice on how we can help you manage your child arrangements, contact our Family Law team.
