Help with co-parenting and mediation!

[jodieleigh007]

Hello! Can anyone give me advice on what to expect from a mediator?
I'll try and give a quick story.. my ex is moving about 40 minutes away from me and my son but he doesn't drive, his girlfriend does. He wants my son Sunday-Wednesday, taking him out of nursery. My concern about this is that he doesn't drive, so if for any reason he's not able to pick our son up (which he only lives 2 minutes from me now and he's always asking me to drop or pick him up), I wouldn't be able to get to work, therefore not get paid. Theres no one else to have him on these days and the nursery wouldn't take him those extra days.
I've suggested every other weekend so we each get a full weekend with our son, but he said no because it's too long to go without seeing him, which I understand, so I said this plus a night in the week, but he still said no.
I've also suggested every other weekend so the weekend I don't have my son I'm able to do overtime at work, which i could really do with as my wage isn't the greatest.
What would a mediator say? Would he understand my view or would he just agree with my sons dad?
The current arrangement is every Sunday from 5pm until Monday at 7pm and every other Friday night from 4pm until Saturday 1pm. This arrangement wouldn't be able to carry on as by the time his dad picks him up on a Sunday evening and gets home it would be our sons bedtime,, (he couldn't get him earlier as he works until 4pm). With the Friday's he would have a little time on the evening but it would significantly reduce his time on the Saturday morning as he starts work at 2pm so would need to be back home for then.
Sorry if it's a bit long!

How old is your son?
Does he realise if he has him Sunday to Wednesday he will need to arrange for and pay for childcare on those days?
Have you asked what will happen when he starts school or school nursery at 3 when they will say he has to be there 5 days a week!

Is you ex taking driving lessons?

What would happen if his the relationship with his girlfriend broke down and therefore wouldn’t be the one doing all of the driving?

He turned 2 in December. He said he would be having Monday and Tuesdays off work to have him so wouldn't need the childcare. I've mentioned pre school and school and he just keeps saying that's a couple years away yet - but what he doesn't realise is it wouldn't be fair to keep changing out sons routine to suit him!

He has told me he's taking driving lessons but he lies a lot to me so I try not to give it much hope. I've mentioned what would happen if the relationship broke down but he's adamant it wouldn't happen, (they've been with each other 1 year in June).

He could be a rising three in school nursery in January 2021. I would be going to look around a few school nurseries now and ask about their rising three places.

Is there a preschool or nursery class at the primary school you are thinking about?

The nursery he is currently at has them until the age of 4, but the school he's going to isn't actually built yet, it's due to be finished this year so he would hopefully go to that one! If it is built this year then I plan on taking him to the pre-school there so he can get used to it before school.

I would at for the preschool as soon as you can. Look into what the process is before the mediation so that you can say that is what you want him to do.