The number of warring parents being ordered by judges to attend parenting classes has tripled to 3,000 in five months, the Gazette has learned.

Figures from the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service (Cafcass) have shown a threefold rise in the number of separating parents taking part in court-ordered Separated Parents Information Programmes (PIPs) this year.

The classes are intended to limit the impact of parents’ separation on their children.

From 1 April 2009 to 31 March 2010, 945 people participated in the programmes. But in the five months from 1 April to 31 August this year, the number taking part rose to more than 3,000.

A Cafcass spokeswoman said the growth in referrals was down to a greater awareness of the classes by judges, improved partnership between the courts and Cafcass, and the removal of the attendance fee from April 2010.

She said there were 44,000 private law cases last year, and Cafcass expects that 12,000 people will have been referred to PIPs by the end of the current financial year.

The spokeswoman added that ultimately Cafcass hoped a third of all private law parties would be referred to the programmes.

PIPs were introduced by the Children and Adoption Act 2006, which came into force in December 2008 to help parents learn how to lessen the impact of separation on their children.

Attendance is mandatory where it has been ordered by the judge, but couples are referred separately and go to group sessions with other parents, rather than together.

In a speech last week to campaign group Families Need Fathers, the president of the Family Division, Lord Justice Wall, criticised separating parents for the damage they risk causing their children through ongoing contact and residence disputes.

Cafcass chief executive Anthony Douglas said: ‘For many parents the pain of separation or divorce makes it impossible for them to put aside their differences and think about what’s best for their children.’

He said the programmes make parents more aware of the upset they may be causing their children, and provide practical ways of making post-separation parenting jointly, and constructively shared.

‘These programmes are an important part of our approach to keeping families out of the courts, and to a child-focused relationship breakdown service,’ said Douglas.

Christina Blacklaws, Law Society council member for child care, said the rise in referrals was ‘extremely positive’ and showed that judges are becoming more aware of the option.

But she said if judges on all circuits were more aware of the programmes, there could be 10 times as many referrals as there are now: ‘We don’t want a postcode lottery in this. There needs to be judicial continuity across the country.’

Elizabeth Edwards, vice-chair of family lawyers group Resolution, said: ‘PIPs are operating with families who have built up a greater degree of hostility through the legal process.

‘We’re thrilled that more parents are getting information to help them make decisions in a child-focused way, but it would be better if this kind of information was available at the start of proceedings.’