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Guide
Section 7 reports
In short
- A section 7 report is a welfare report the court orders when parents can't agree.
- It's written by Cafcass (Cafcass Cymru in Wales), or by a local authority social worker if children's services are already involved.
- It usually takes around 12 to 16 weeks, sometimes longer.
- Judges give it a lot of weight, so how you engage really matters.
What it is
The name comes from section 7 of the Children Act 1989. The court asks the writer to look into specific questions, for example where the children should live, how much time they should spend with each parent, or whether contact is safe. The order will say what the report has to cover, so read it carefully.
What the writer will do
- Interview each parent, in person, by video or by phone
- Speak to the children, depending on their age and understanding, to hear their wishes and feelings
- Sometimes watch the children with each parent, or visit your home
- Contact school, nursery, the GP, health visitors or others who know the children
- Read the court papers and any police or children's services records
They'll then make recommendations based on the welfare checklist: the list of things the court must consider, such as the children's wishes, their needs, the effect of any change, and any risk of harm. See the jargon buster.
How to prepare for your interview
- Know your children's lives in detail: school, teachers' names, friends, clubs, health, what they like. This shows you're involved.
- Have your proposal and the reasons for it ready. Be flexible about the details.
- Show you support the children's relationship with their mum, unless there are real safety concerns. Courts look for the parent who will encourage the children's relationship with the other.
- Get your home ready if there's a home visit: a bed or space for the children, a few of their things, and a tidy, safe home.
- Never coach the children or ask them what they said. Writers are trained to spot it, and it can badly damage your case.
When you get the report
You'll usually get a copy a couple of weeks before the next hearing. You must keep it confidential. Don't show it to anyone other than your McKenzie friend or legal adviser without the court's permission, and don't post about it.
Read it twice: once to take it in, and again with a pen. Mark:
- factual mistakes, such as wrong dates, names or events
- things you said that have been misunderstood
- people or information the writer didn't look at
- whether the recommendation matches the evidence in the report
If you disagree with it
The court doesn't have to follow the recommendation, but it needs good reasons not to. Your options are:
- Accept parts of it. Agreeing where you can makes you more credible on the parts you challenge.
- Set out your concerns in your position statement, calmly and point by point.
- Ask for the writer to attend the final hearing so you can ask them questions. You usually need to ask for this at the dispute resolution hearing (DRA). Focus your questions on gaps and errors, not on attacking the writer.
- Ask for an addendum report if something important has changed, or something was missed.
This guide is general information about private children cases in England and Wales, checked in October 2026. It isn't legal advice for your situation. Rules and fees change, and every case is different. If you're unsure, ask the court, or speak to a solicitor. Some parents qualify for legal aid, especially where there's domestic abuse.