The President of the Family Division, Sir Andrew McFarlane, has published helpful and pragmatic guidance for parents with Child Arrangements Orders.
The guidance can be found by visiting the following link: https://www.judiciary.uk/announcements/coronavirus-crisis-guidance-on-compliance-with-family-court-child-arrangement-orders/
I suggest that all parents who hold Child Arrangements Orders review the guidance, as it addresses a lot of concerns.
It is best to try and agree what is best for the child in these unprecedented circumstances, whilst also weighing up the risks associated with allowing contact to go ahead in accordance with any order in place. These risks are not only to the child but also to other people as we continue to deal with this pandemic.
If the decision is made that contact arrangements should be varied, other methods of contact should be considered. There are a number of platforms such as FaceTime, WhatsApp, Skype, and Zoom to name but a few that would allow the absent parent to have regular, albeit indirect, contact.
If you have any concerns about a Child Arrangements Order, or the need to vary its terms, please do get in touch so we can discuss the issue further.