Writing to children – A toolkit for judges

This toolkit has been produced to support family judges in writing to children. It applies to private and public law cases. It is not intended to replace judicial discretion or individual practice but is aimed at
supporting judges in this element of their judicial role.
Writing to children is one important way of ensuring that children have the opportunity to participate in family court proceedings. A child’s right to participate in proceedings and to have the final decision
communicated to them in a way they can understand is enshrined in international and domestic legislation and guidance – as a way of both informing welfare-based decisions and upholding children’s rights and access to justice (Stalford & Hollingsworth, 2020).
The toolkit has been co-developed with input from children and young people, judges, researchers and academics, social workers, clinical psychologists, communication experts and others who work with children and the courts. It is a gathering together of evidence and good practice, and a helpful reference point for judges when they are trying to decide if and how to write to the child or children involved in their cases.