Care and Learning Alliance (CALA)

CALA is based in Inverness and provides a range of training, payroll, advocacy and management services to integrated early year’s, childcare and family support projects across the Highlands. CALA is an infrastructure organisation with a total membership of 304 including parent and toddler groups, early year’s centres and out of school clubs. In addition CALA delivers family support projects, manages 4 day-care centres and 13 out-of-school clubs and provides a ‘staff-bank’ of trained childcare workers for relief cover to nursery’s, day-care centres, playgroups and in the home. Through the employment of a Play Practice Advisor (PPA) and the delivery of an intensive training programme, CALA will strengthen the focus on free play and raise awareness of its value with parents, staff, volunteers and the wider community. The Go Play project will focus on out-of-school Clubs of which there are 20 currently represented within CALA’s membership and a further 13 clubs directly managed by the group.