Childcare arrangements - Final divorce sign off

Some high level overview of the current situation. I am currently going through the divorce process and there is a current childcare arrangement in place (partly documented and agreed in email but not in a formal parenting plan) which has been running since October 2024. I work 4on 4off 12hr shifts so the agreement is that I have the children (aged 8 and 10) on my 4 days off and then my ex has them during my 4 working days. She has now made a claim that the children are struggling and are confused (they aren't) and wants to trial a new arrangements. Discussions have been had via solicitors and ultimately it has been referred to mediation, however nothing has come through from mediators yet. I will attend the mediation however I don't know whether that will result in any changes to the childcare or not - the proposal she suggested is wholly unsuitable and I'm not even willing to trial it, which my solicitors fully support. The intention was to draft a parenting plan to sign off the current childcare arrangements but given the fact she has raised concerns that has been put on hold.

I guess I'm wondering what will happen if the divorce process gets to the final stages and there is a childcare arrangement in place but yet one party does not agree to the childcare arrangements? Will that stop the divorce being finalised? Or could the courts look at the situation, and see that there is a childcare arrangement in place (agreed to and confirmed in emails), and still sign off the divorce and advise if there is any disagreements to work it out via mediation or other means?

Courts only tend to make orders around childcare where they really have to these days so it is unlikely to delay the actual divorce.

Is her knew idea likely to be financially motivated? Who currently claims child benefit? Do either of you pay the other child maintenance?

Hello, thank you for the reply. I was hoping you would say that. It was my understanding that because there was a childcare arrangement in place, they would be unlikely to get involved, even if one parent isn't particularly happy. So I hope that is the case if we can't agree on changing the current one.

I don't think it's financially motivated because she claims she wouldn't want to claim child maintenance, which quite frankly I do not trust. No one claims any maintenance as its a 50 50 split and I'd like it to stay that way. Currently she claims all the child tax benefit and despite asking for 50% of it she hasn't yet agreed to give it to me. We are currently awaiting form E exchange.