A free UK parenting plan template.

✦ The basics

What is a parenting plan?

It's a written agreement between parents about the day-to-day of raising your children after separating — where they live, the time they spend with each of you, holidays, school, health and money.

Many families agree one themselves, often with help from a mediator. It's not a court order and isn't automatically legally binding — it's a shared understanding that keeps everyone on the same page. The idea comes from CAFCASS, who now call theirs “Our Child's Plan” (formerly the Parenting Plan), part of their Planning Together for Children guidance, with a free online tool. For how child arrangements work more widely, see GOV.UK.

ParentGlow isn't legal-advice software. A plan can be made legally binding through a court consent order, but that's a separate step — for advice, speak to a mediator or family solicitor, or see GOV.UK.

✦ The checklist

What to put in your parenting plan.

A good plan is calm and specific. These are the ten things UK families usually cover — and the free template walks you through each one, with room to fill in your own.

• 01

  Living arrangements

  Where the children mainly live, and where they stay with each parent.

• 02

  The weekly pattern & contact

  Whose days, the routine, and how time is shared — in UK family-law language (contact, not “custody”).

• 03

  Handovers

  Where, when, who does drop-off and pick-up, and how to keep them calm.

• 04

  Holidays & special days

  Splitting the school holidays, half-terms, Christmas, birthdays, Mother's and Father's Day.

• 05

  School & education

  The school run, parents' evenings, who's told what, and the big decisions made together.

• 06

  Health

  NHS number and GP, medicines across both homes, and who handles appointments.

• 07

  Money & shared costs

  How you'll split clubs, uniform, trips and prescriptions — and how to settle up.

• 08

  Communication

  How you'll talk, response times, and keeping it child-focused.

• 09

  Decision-making

  The big decisions you'll make together — school, medical, moving.

• 10

  Reviewing & changing it

  When you'll revisit the plan as the children grow.

✦ The asset

Download it free — then keep it from going stale.

A plan in a drawer drifts out of date. Download the free template to agree the first version, then keep it living in ParentGlow.

The shared calendar holds the contact pattern (UK school terms and bank holidays already in), and “What we agreed” keeps a calm, tamper-evident record of the arrangements and cost splits — so “what did we agree?” always has a clear answer. If things ever reach mediation or the family court, your records export court-ready in a PD 27A-aligned bundle, and your data always comes out free.

ParentGlow isn't legal-advice software — it speaks your language and keeps a fair record.

✦ UK by default

Built around UK family life.

✦ Honest pricing

One plan covers both homes.

The template is free to download and yours to keep. ParentGlow — the calm place to keep it living — is one subscription that covers both parents and the wider circle you choose to bring in. No per-parent charge.

See pricing →

Sources (checked 17 June 2026): GOV.UK — looking after children if you divorce or separate · CAFCASS — Our Child's Plan (formerly the Parenting Plan) · Planning Together for Children (free online tool). A parenting plan is a voluntary agreement, not a court order, and isn't automatically legally binding — this guide is general information, not legal advice.