Advice on restarting contact?

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Does anyone have experience of reintroducing contact after a parent has been absent for a number of years? (Not just a few months) how did you first go about it? (Was his choice so no judgement)

I think it depends on how old the children are and if you'd be willing for him to come into the home to see them (with you present) or maybe meet up for a milkshake in a café? Keep visits short at first and build up to them spending a half day then full day with him.

Sorry, I should add I don't have direct experience, only friends and family - I think the children need to feel safe and secure with him before being expected to go off somewhere alone with him. You know your children best and will be able to gauge how comfortable they are.

Not in the house, so you don’t think it should be purely writing at first? Some people have told me it should be phone calls/ texts to begin with for a few months to make sure he is consistent

Yes possibly text or phone calls to start with, depending on the age of the children. You could talk to them and see what they're comfortable with?