The Public Law Outline (PLO) — how public law children cases are case-managed

REVIEWED BY: Sean McNamara on 2026-09-01

What the PLO is

The Public Law Outline is the case-management framework for public law children proceedings — applications by local authorities for care or supervision orders under Part IV of the Children Act 1989. It is set out in the Family Procedure Rules (Part 12 and Practice Direction 12A) and sits alongside statutory pre-proceedings guidance issued by the Department for Education. Its headline feature is the 26-week timetable: care and supervision cases must be decided within 26 weeks from issue, extendable only where necessary to resolve the case justly.

The structure of a PLO case

1. Issue and allocation. The local authority files a C110A application with its statement and evidence threshold document. The case is allocated to the right level of judge (Family Procedure Rules Part 2 allocation criteria — serious cases to Circuit or High Court judges). 2. Case Management Hearing (CMH) — usually within a few weeks of issue. The court sets the timetable, identifies the key issues, and gives directions: disclosure, assessments, expert reports, who must file statements by when. 3. Issue Resolution Hearing (IRH) — a late-stage hearing aimed at narrowing or resolving the case: identifying agreed facts, limiting contested issues, and exploring whether the case can be decided at the IRH itself to avoid a further final hearing. 4. Final hearing — only for issues the IRH could not resolve.

Documents the PLO requires from the local authority

The threshold document: what harm or risk of harm is alleged, and why the local authority says the s.31 threshold is crossed.
A social work statement/analysis and care plan.
Evidence of family and friends assessment (connections) — the local authority must explore the wider family before and during proceedings.
The local authority's own timetable and any extension requests with reasons.

What parents should know

Legal aid is non-means, non-merits tested for parents (and those with parental responsibility) in care and supervision proceedings — you are entitled to a solicitor regardless of income. Ask any family solicitor for a "public law family" legal aid representation.
The court scrutinises delay: each extension of the 26-week clock needs a reason recorded. Parents can (and should) press for assessments and contact to be timetabled rather than left open.
Parties can agree much of the evidence — agreeing facts and documents at the CMH shortens the case and protects the timetable.
If you disagree with the local authority's plan (e.g. adoption vs kinship care), the IRH is where positions are tested; be ready with your own evidence, including family members willing to be assessed.

Official links

https://www.justice.gov.uk/courts/procedure-rules/family/parts/part_12 (FPR Part 12)
https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1989/41 (Children Act 1989, Part IV)
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/working-together-to-safeguard-children--2
https://www.gov.uk/legal-aid

This page is general information, not legal advice. YourFamilyCase.co.uk is an independent information directory and is not affiliated with HMCTS or gov.uk.

Content verified against the official HMCTS court directory, gov.uk forms and fees pages, and the professional body registers (SRA, FMC, Bar Council). Last reviewed September 2026.