A UK First that Parents
Need to Know About
Children’s activities are a valued and much loved feature in
the weekly routine for many families countrywide and when attending a
structured activity, class or club it is only natural for parents to assume
that the organiser is regulated. But
this is not always the case. In fact it is shocking to learn that up until 2
years ago there was no code of practice or even any guidelines in place to monitor
standards in the children’s activities sector or to help parents make informed
choices regarding the wealth of providers out there.
With so many children engaged in activities throughout the UK each week
and the average family investing considerable time and money in clubs and
classes, it is truly remarkable that independent guidelines were not in place.
Now however, thanks to the Children’s Activities Association (CAA), this
alarming gap has been filled. When choosing activities, parents can now easily
get peace of mind on a range of important issues such as insurance, health
and safety, criminal record checks, training, qualifications, class content and
much more just by asking one question – ‘Are you a CAA member?’
Set-up by leading industry experts in 2015, the CAA is a
not-for-profit, industry-led independent association that is committed to
setting and raising standards in all organised children’s activities across the
UK. This ground-breaking national initiative has truly revolutionised the
industry and the way that parents can now make choices with their pioneering Code
of Practice and an accreditation system (lead by one of the UK’s leading
experts in child development, Dr Amanda Gummer PhD) - that parents can trust.
Activity providers joining the CAA commit to the Code of
Practice and the very thorough accreditation programme thus clearly demonstrating
their drive to deliver the very best for children and their passion for
excellence. The CAA brand gives recognition to those providers who excel and gives
parents a ‘benchmark’ - the reassurance they need when selecting classes for
their little ones from the myriad of providers out there. From baby massage to
swimming, gymnastics to crafts and football to yoga, ensuring that the provider
is a CAA member is now a very important part of the decision-making process for
mums, dads and carers.
The brainchild of the organisation, is Sam Willoughby, multi
award-winning business owner and mum who says “I have loved taking my own
daughter to many children’s activities since she was a baby, so much so I
created online guides and awards back in 2006 to help other parents find
activities to enjoy with their kids. Having worked in this thriving area
of business for over a decade I realised that the companies working so hard to
deliver excellence for children had no way to get any independent
accreditation. I was in the unique position to bring together leading
providers and experts in the field to make this a reality. We have worked
hard to develop a relevant Code of Practice and robust accreditation
process and so now for the first time parents can feel confident making
informed decisions when making their choices’.
Thanks to the CAA, parents don’t have to ask dozens of
questions any more when considering an activity for their kids – simply checking whether the provider is CAA
accredited will give them the peace of mind they need - and with more than
200,000 children attending a CAA member class every week, there’s something for
everyone.
About the CAA:
A first in the UK, the CAA is a not-for-profit organisation
of children's activity providers and experts. The organisation gives parents a
bench-mark for all organised children's activities by establishing and
improving consistent standards & accreditation.
