Child Maintenance Calculator Days Per Year

Under the Child Support Act 1991, shared care is evaluated across an entire 52-week calendar year (365 days). Rather than relying on rough weekly estimates, statutory assessments require an accurate annualized audit of all overnight stays.

By aggregating weekend blocks, holiday periods, and teacher training days, parents can identify whether their current contact schedule falls just a few nights short of a higher discount tier.

Many parents assume they only receive credit for term-time contact. However, school holiday provisions in Child Arrangements Orders typically award:

• • Half of 6-week summer holiday: 21 nights
• • Half of 2-week Christmas break: 7 nights
• • Half of 2-week Easter break: 7 nights
• • Three 1-week half-terms: 10 to 14 nights

Combined, school holidays contribute 45 to 49 overnight stays, which when added to 52 alternate weekend nights produces 97 to 101 nights—putting the paying parent on the threshold of Tier 2 (104 nights).

To protect against CMS reassessments based on inaccurate receiving parent claims, paying parents should maintain a synchronized digital calendar documenting every overnight stay, school pick-up, and return.

If a dispute arises, providing an export of your calendar alongside WhatsApp or email confirmations allows CMS decision-makers to confirm your exact tier without delays.