In the Public Bill Committee on the Bill for the Children and Families 2014 Act, the Minister said: 

"… new child arrangements orders … replace existing contact and residence orders. The family justice review panel said that the change would encourage parents to focus on their child's needs, rather than their own perceived rights and entitlements in respect of the child …" 

The intention behind the child arrangements order is to move away from language that reinforces the perception that one parent is more important than the other.

When we bring a child into our relationship, we expect a fair share of their care; bring him up together, talk over the big decisions about vaccinations and schools, and eventually both go to parents’ evenings if we can make it home from the office on time! We expect to go to school plays, sports days, musical recitals, and maybe even end up standing next to each other when she eventually graduates or gets married.

Read my article and case study on page 35 of the Business Post's North West edition which shows how this plays out in practice.