Ex becoming flaky with contact - what do I do now?

[BigThree]

Since splitting just prior to March my ex has come to see our two DC’s (5 and 18 months) once a week. He will only stay a few hours with them but he has come at the same time each week and has only let them down once so he was doing well all considered.
Now he’s started to shorten the time he’s here, wanting to take just one of the children out instead of both, claiming he doesn’t feel he can safely supervise them both alone in my (stair gated perfectly child proof) front room because of a bad knee, and has now claimed he won’t be coming this week for that very reason.
He’s a typical narcissist, pretty much by the book, but I don’t know how to deal with this for the best. I don’t really want to go through court bevause I don’t think I’m in the financial position to cover fees, I’m happy to go through mediation but I have no qualms about the arrangement itself and neither does he, I’m just concerned he’s starting to wain on his consistency and my eldest is old enough to understand what’s going on.
As a side note he does not pay any maintenance either.
Any advice or similar experiences?

I wouldn’t do anything about the contact. I would put in a claim for child support

What @EL8888 said. Sounds like contact will drop off over time. Does he work?

There is no point going to court. You can't force him to have contact with them. If he doesn't want to have contact with them then he's a tosser and they are better off without him. Call the CMO regarding maintenance

You can't make him see the children, so not sure why you're thinking about the courts? They can't/won't enforce consistency.

I would go after him for child support and do your best to mitigate for his waning interest in the children.

Don't lie to children pretending the absent parent cares when they don't. The child works it out and it hurts more if they were lied to. Also, if you say daddy loves you really and use the courts to force him to see them when he doesn't want to then when they inevitably realise he is not bothered about them they will assume it is their fault for not being good enough because you told them he really wants them and loves them.

Let the contact drop off. Don't make up stuff about him loving them when he doesn't. You can say things like "I don't know why he didn't come" and "I don't know why he cancelled" and "I am here and glad to play with you"

Definitely put in a claim for maintenance. There's nothing you can do about his consistency, it's a sad situation for your child if they are old enough to understand him not turning up but you can't force him to turn up and spend time with them unfortunately I had a similar situation and contact is now none existent, just keep reminding your child it's not their fault but I wouldn't say anything bad about their dad to them either. It's tricky to know what to say.

With my child I wouldn't let them know that they were going to see their dad until he actually turned up, so that saved a lot of heartache as they didn't know the countless times he cancelled or was a no show.

Thanks for all your responses, I really appreciate it.

@ButteryPuffin he does work, full time minimum wage job but he’s definitely in a position to pay. So I think as @EL8888 has suggested I will go after maintainence. I haven’t until now because I know he will make a huge deal out of it and become angry and nasty etc, which even writing it out is obsurd because they are his kids too and I know he should be paying for them.
@TorkTorkBam that’s good advice, thank you. On the one occasion he did cancel I did make an excuse for him but if he doesn’t come today I won’t lie.
@lavenderlove it is tough to know what to say but you’re right, I wouldn’t badmouth him as I don’t think it’s appropriate for kids to hear bad things about the other parent (even if he is a monumental wanker)

I would definitely contact CMS.
I would refuse for contact to take place in my home.
You can’t force him to see them unfortunately, and hopefully he’ll bugger off instead of constantly letting them down.