Source · National Audit Office

Improving family court services for children

The NAO’s latest report reviews the government’s approach to improving family court services for children in England and Wales.

Published: 21 May 2025 Recommendations: 9 Type: Value for Money Department: Ministry of Justice
Dept: Ministry of Justice Topics: Child maintenanceChildcare and children's servicesChildren’s health and welfare nao.org.uk →

Recommendations

9 items
9 accepted 9 in progress

Recommendation 1

Addressee: Department for Education; Ministry of Justice · Source location: Page 11, Recommendation a1

MoJ, DfE, HMCTS and Cafcass, working through the FJB, should develop and publish an overall strategy for family justice improvements, including:
? clear and measurable objectives for better serving children and families and taxpayers;

Response position: Accepted

Delivery: In progress · 11/2026

Recommendation 2

Addressee: Department for Education; Ministry of Justice · Source location: Page 11, Recommendation b1

MoJ, DfE, HMCTS and Cafcass, working through the FJB, should agree a data and evidence strategy to identify data gaps from a family justice whole system perspective and consider how it will address these. This should include examining data in existing systems as well as insights from initiatives to better link systems, including methods for tracking a child through the process. The strategy should include how departments will collect better data on:
? causes of delays and inefficiencies in the family justice system;

Response position: Accepted

Delivery: In progress · 11/2026

Recommendation 3

Addressee: Department for Education; Ministry of Justice · Source location: Page 11, Recommendation c

HMCTS, MoJ and DfE should review available support for families through court proceedings and assess opportunities for better support to litigants in person and families more widely, including how to improve guidance for family court
applicants by learning from the guidance available for other court applications and public services

Response position: Accepted

Delivery: In progress · 11/2026

Recommendation 4

Addressee: Department for Education; Ministry of Justice · Source location: Page 11, Recommendation d

Building on existing work with LFJBs, MoJ, DfE, HMCTS and Cafcass should identify how learning about what works (both locally and nationally) can be more systematically captured and applied more broadly.

Response position: Accepted

Delivery: In progress · 11/2026

Recommendation 5

Addressee: Department for Education; Ministry of Justice · Source location: Page 11, Recommendation a2

MoJ, DfE, HMCTS and Cafcass, working through the FJB, should develop and publish an overall strategy for family justice improvements, including:
? a system-wide assessment of key issues affecting performance;

Response position: Accepted

Delivery: In progress · 11/2026

Recommendation 6

Addressee: Department for Education; Ministry of Justice · Source location: Page 11, Recommendation a3

MoJ, DfE, HMCTS and Cafcass, working through the FJB, should develop and publish an overall strategy for family justice improvements, including:
? a review of ongoing and future initiatives to ensure work is joined up and addresses key performance issues, including the role of local family justice boards; and

Response position: Accepted

Delivery: In progress · 11/2026

Recommendation 7

Addressee: Department for Education; Ministry of Justice · Source location: Page 11, Recommendation b2

MoJ, DfE, HMCTS and Cafcass, working through the FJB, should agree a data and evidence strategy to identify data gaps from a family justice whole system perspective and consider how it will address these. This should include examining data in existing systems as well as insights from initiatives to better link systems, including methods for tracking a child through the process. The strategy should include how departments will collect better data on:
? differential outcomes for user groups; and

Response position: Accepted

Delivery: In progress · 11/2026

Recommendation 8

Addressee: Department for Education; Ministry of Justice · Source location: Page 11, Recommendation b3

MoJ, DfE, HMCTS and Cafcass, working through the FJB, should agree a data and evidence strategy to identify data gaps from a family justice whole system perspective and consider how it will address these. This should include examining data in existing systems as well as insights from initiatives to better link systems, including methods for tracking a child through the process. The strategy should include how departments will collect better data on:
? the ?whole system? costs of family justice.

Response position: Accepted

Delivery: In progress · 11/2026

Recommendation 9

Addressee: Department for Education; Ministry of Justice · Source location: Page 11, Recommendation a4

MoJ, DfE, HMCTS and Cafcass, working through the FJB, should develop and publish an overall strategy for family justice improvements, including:
? a set of measurable performance indicators that cover all elements important to achieving good outcomes, including quality and efficiency as well as timeliness.

Response position: Accepted

Delivery: In progress · 11/2026

Public Accounts Committee follow-up

1 report

The Public Accounts Committee examined this NAO report and published its own recommendations. The government responds to PAC recommendations via Treasury Minutes.