National Family Mediation in Aberdare

School Holiday and Summer – Longer holidays are usually divided equally (e.g., 50/50), but the court will ensure the timing suits the child’s school schedule and age.

• Summer: Often split into two blocks (e.g., three weeks each), with parents alternating who chooses the first block each year.
• Easter/Half-Terms: Typically alternated annually between the parents.

2. Child and Parent Birthdays

The court aims to ensure that both parents can mark these significant dates.

The Child’s Birthday

• Alternating: The child spends their actual birthday with one parent, and the parents alternate this each year.
• Split Day: The day is split (e.g., morning with one parent, afternoon/evening with the other).
• Access: The non-resident parent may be granted “reasonable contact” on the day, such as a phone or video call, regardless of who has physical custody.

Parent’s Birthday

• The court will usually specify that the child should be with the relevant parent on their actual birthday. This overrides the regular contact schedule for that day.

3. Other Special Occasions and Travel – The Child Arrrangement order will often include provisions for less frequent but important events:

Religious and Cultural Holidays: Specific arrangements will be made for holidays like Eid, Diwali, Passover, or St. David’s Day, often alternating annually.

• Mother’s Day and Father’s Day: The child is almost always ordered to be with the relevant parent on their designated day, overriding the regular timetable.
• Holidays Abroad (International Travel): The Order will specify whether the child can be taken outside of England and Wales, often requiring the traveling parent to provide details (itinerary, contact numbers) to the other parent in advance.