Child Arrangements Mediation
Agree Arrangements for Your Children Without Court
When parents separate, agreeing what happens next for the children can be one of the hardest parts.
You may need to work out where your children will spend their time, weekends and holidays, how handovers will work, or how you will make important decisions about their lives. You may agree about some things but feel completely stuck on others.
Child arrangements mediation gives you a structured way to work through these issues together, with the support of an experienced independent family mediator.
Rather than handing decisions about your family to a court, mediation can help you explore practical arrangements that work for your children and for both parents.
All meetings take place online, so I can work with separated parents across England and Wales.
Start with Your MIAM
Explore our Children Mediation Package
Not sure whether mediation is right for your situation?
What Can You Discuss in Child Arrangements Mediation?
Every family is different. You may need help with one particular issue, or you may need to work out a new set of arrangements following your separation.
Child arrangements mediation can help you discuss practical issues such as:
- where your children will live and how they will divide their time between you
- weekdays, weekends and overnight stays
- school holidays, Christmas arrangements after separation and other special occasions
- collecting and returning the children
- arrangements around school and childcare
- keeping in touch with the children when they are with the other parent
- introducing new partners
- communication between you as parents
- important decisions about your children’s education, health and activities
- changing existing arrangements as your children grow or circumstances change
You do not have to agree about everything before coming to mediation. The purpose of mediation is to give you a structured and supported place to work through the areas where you are finding it difficult to agree.
Where mediation is suitable, the aim is to help you develop practical arrangements that reflect your children’s needs while also working in real life for both parents.
Family Mediation for Child Arrangements
Mediation can help you work through parenting arrangements after separation in a structured way.
You can discuss where your children spend their time, holidays, handovers, communication and other practical decisions that affect family life.
Mediation can help you to work things through together.
MIAM – Your First Step
Before mediation begins, each parent attends a separate Mediation Information and Assessment Meeting (MIAM).
This gives you the opportunity to explain your situation privately, understand how mediation works and consider whether mediation is suitable for your family.
It is also an opportunity to work out your next steps, which may involve mediation or something else.
You are not committing to anything yet beyond the MIAM.
Child Arrangement Mediation Package
Want a clear structure rather than open-ended mediation?
Our £500 Child Arrangements Mediation Package includes:
- a 2-hour mediation session
- a 1-hour review session
- routine preparation and follow-up
The cost is £250 per parent.
Where your case is eligible and voucher funding is available, the £500 Family Mediation Voucher may cover the full cost of the mediation package. MIAMs are charged separately.
How Child Arrangements Mediation Can Help
Keep the Focus on Your Children
You Have More Control Over the Arrangements
Arrangements That Can Develop With Your Family
Separation can make even practical parenting decisions difficult.
Mediation gives you a structured place to consider what your children need now and how arrangements may need to change as they grow.
The focus is on finding practical ways forward rather than revisiting every difficulty in your past relationship.
In mediation, you remain the people making decisions about your family.
Rather than asking a court to decide the arrangements for you, you can explore different options and work towards arrangements that are realistic for your children and for both parents.
Children’s needs change.
An arrangement that works for a young child may need to change when school, activities, work patterns or family circumstances alter.
Mediation can help you agree arrangements now and return to them in the future if something needs to be reviewed.
If your child has started saying that they do not want to see their other parent, you may find this guidance helpful.
Could the £500 Family Mediation Voucher Help With Your Costs?
Family Mediation Vouchers
Our Child Arrangements Mediation Package
If you need mediation to discuss arrangements for your children, you may be eligible for up to £500 towards the cost of your mediation sessions through the Family Mediation Voucher Scheme.
There is no financial means test, so eligibility does not depend on how much you earn.
The voucher can be used towards eligible mediation sessions involving children. It cannot be used to pay for your MIAM or for work outside the mediation sessions.
You do not need to apply for the voucher yourself. Once you have both attended your individual MIAMs and mediation is suitable, I can explain the process and, if appropriate, apply for the voucher on your behalf.
Our structured package includes:
A 2-hour mediation meeting
followed by
A 1-hour review meeting
The mediation sessions cost £500 per family – £250 per parent.
Where your case is eligible, your application is approved and voucher funding is available, the £500 voucher may cover the full £500 cost of those mediation sessions.
You will both first need to attend your individual MIAMs. If mediation is then suitable, I can discuss the package with you.
Could Mediation Help You Avoid Months of Court Proceedings?
If you cannot agree arrangements for your children, going to court may sometimes be necessary. But it is not the only option.
The latest Ministry of Justice statistics show that private-law Children Act cases took an average of 33 weeks to reach disposal between April and June 2026.
Where mediation is safe and suitable, you do not have to wait for a court to begin working through the arrangements.
You can start discussing the issues that matter to your family and explore possible solutions together, with the support of an independent family mediator.
Mediation does not guarantee that you will reach agreement, and some families will still need legal advice or court proceedings. However, it can give you an opportunity to try to resolve matters yourselves before asking a court to make decisions about your children.
Our Child Arrangements Mediation Package provides a structured 2-hour mediation meeting followed by a 1-hour review meeting, giving you the opportunity to put arrangements into practice and then come back to consider how they are working.
Could You Qualify for Legal Aid for Family Mediation?
Divorce Nicely does not offer Legal Aid.
If you are on a low income, or think that you or the other parent may qualify for Legal Aid, I recommend checking this before booking a private MIAM with me.
Legal Aid may cover the cost of family mediation, including MIAMs and, depending on eligibility, mediation sessions.
You can check whether you may qualify through GOV.UK and find a family mediator who offers Legal Aid through the Family Mediation Council.
Ready to Find Out Whether Mediation Could Help?
If you are trying to agree arrangements for your children following separation, the first step is an individual MIAM.
This gives you the opportunity to explain your situation privately, understand your options and consider whether mediation is suitable for your family.
If mediation is suitable and you both wish to proceed, you can then choose the mediation option that best fits your circumstances, including our structured Child Arrangements Mediation Package.
Start with Your MIAM
Explore our Child Arrangements Package
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