This month has seen the return of some of the early years and primary school children back to their classrooms.
The new measure has had a polarising effect across the nation.
For many parents it was a sign of relief and an opportunity to restore their old routines.
Others, however, have understandably found themselves in strict opposition to the idea of sending their children to school at this stage of the pandemic.
We are already seeing an increase in disputes amongst separated couples on this point who are quick to take their “battles” to the court arena.
At present the attendance is non obligatory and there are no fines for non-attendance.
The government however strongly encourages children within the eligible year groups to return to school.
In these highly unprecedented times, it is up to the individual parents to decide what is best for their children and how to keep them safe from the virus. There is no right or wrong answer.
However, in the event of a disagreement, we would strongly advise you to immediately contact our specialist family lawyers to explore other available methods of dispute resolution other than an application to the Court.
The Family Courts have published guidelines on how to best manage child arrangements during the pandemic. There is an expectation on the parents to prioritise talking with each other about their worries and to attempt working out their differences directly or with background assistance from lawyers or mediators.
A conversation with a family law specialist might help you alleviate some of your concerns and allow you to reconsider your position.
Should you experience a breakdown of communication with the other parent, a mediation appointment can be arranged within days to help you move forward.
At times however mediation will not be suitable at which point a court application will become necessary.
If you consider making an application to the Court, please contact one of our family lawyers to discuss your application. The Court will assess whether your application specifically relates to the Covid-19 restrictions and decide how your matter is to proceed.
Should you have any queries, please do not hesitate to contact our family law team for a free initial consultation.