No two days are the same for Dawn Robson , supervisor of the KidsComeFirst @ Lexden out-of-school club in Essex
Monday
Come in at 7am to set up ready for the day. The first two children arrive at 8am on the dot, the rest come in dribs and drabs until 10am.
I decide to write out our order for McDonald's before our trip into town, so we don't annoy the rest of the queue in the process of deciding. I end up with 16 different Happy Meals - the number who want cheeseburgers without cheese never ceases to amaze me!
First stop is the library, which the children love, especially as the summer reading scheme means they get stickers every time they read a book. We wander over to McDonald's after checking out 30 library books on our group library card. Then, with time to spare, we go to Castle Park.
Walking back to the club from the bus stop, I turn and walk backwards telling two kids to get back into line, and trip over. Up in the air go the library books I was carrying, over the road goes my handbag, and I land flat on my back. The children gather round and as soon as I start laughing they all laugh so hard they can't stop.
When one of the children is picked up I hear mum ask what they did today. He replies, 'Dawn fell over!' Last child goes at 6.30, and I'm not far behind.
Tuesday
Arrive at 7.15 to set up. We put out the board games and books in half of the hall and in the other half we have running around and football games.
At 9.45 we make our way over to the bus stop to go ten-pin bowling. As the children put on their bowling shoes, I notice one of our little ones crying. He says his brother told him that people with sweaty, scabby feet had worn his shoes first and his feet will become the same. I managed to console him that it wouldn't happen because they have put magic spray in the shoes.
After bowling we go back to the park and sit round to have our lunch. The children must be hungry as there is no talking, just shovelling in the food.
Back at the club, Julie does a swing ball competition, and later I put on the 'Simpsons' video they ask for.
Wednesday
Outing to Thorrington Scout Camp site - this has woods, a stream, climbing trees, fire building facilities and more. On a ramble around the woods we collect sticks for the fires. Soon we have lots - but will they light? They do, and with only one firelighter for each fire! The children toast bread. Lots of it ends up in the fire so they have to start afresh with another piece. Then it's time to cook their cake on a stick, and last and favourite thing of all, they toast the marshmallows.
Next comes the den building competition. I am given a guided tour of the dens in which they have made beds, cookers, TVs and even a booby trap to stop people getting in. The time flies by and on the way back five children fall asleep in the coach.
Thursday
Off to Suffolk Wildlife Park today. They aren't impressed by the smell in the giraffe house, and they moan that the rhinos are boring. Then one rhino farts. I tell the children it is because they called it boring.
Lots of children feel sick on the way home, but luckily none are (the childcarer's fairy must have been watching out for me today).
Friday
Arrive at 7.40 today (a lie-in!), as we have been able to leave the hall set up. This morning has an 'underwater' theme. Charlotte and I get all the craft equipment out. I'm really satisfied by what we manage to do - an under-the-sea collage, shiny fish, portholes, clay sea creatures and sea tile paintings.
After lunch we go to the swimming pool, hired for two hours. We swim in two groups, one group in the water and one playing in the park, swapping around halfway through. I volunteer to stay in the whole time and the children find it great fun to splash me for two hours. When it's time to get out I have really red eyes from the chlorine.
