FA-2024-000359 - [2025] EWHC 857 (Fam)

The appeal

The mother then applied to this court. On 19^th December 2024 I stayed the order for video contact and the instruction of the independent social worker.

The mother appeals against the judge’s decision on three grounds. The first ground is that the judge was wrong to vacate the fact finding hearing listed in February, which a previous judge had determined was necessary and proportionate. The second ground is that the judge was wrong to direct the ISW to prepare a plan for the re-establishment of face to face contact with the children. The third ground of the appeal is that the judge was wrong to order unsupervised video contact.

On 22^nd January 2025, I granted permission to appeal on all grounds and listed the matter for hearing.

Very unfortunately there were difficulties in listing the matter for hearing for a variety of reasons. The matter was originally to have been listed before another judge but there was a mistake in the order so that he was not available. In the event I found time to put the case in my list in March. It is not satisfactory that it has taken so long to list an appeal against a case management decision and I am sorry that the parties and children have had to wait.