Easter is nearly here. The first of many major school holidays spent praying it doesn't rain EVERY day and racking your brains to come up with affordable solutions to the short attention span and low boredom thresholds of our offspring.

The BEST Holiday Activities Programme offers the pupils of Basildon Education Services Trust the opportunity to take part in a wide range of subsidised activities designed to allow Basildon children to participate in physical, creative and educational pursuits. Delivered by experts, the programme gives children the chance to meet and make new friends from different schools, cultures and backgrounds and share experiences that are fun and fulfilling.

Open to children aged 5 years and above, the planned Easter 'egg-stravaganza' will keep the kids busy and happy with a range of exciting and challenging pursuits. What children will not love going 'potty' in the pottery workshop, creating clay creations that are destined to sit atop your windowsill for many years to come!

Coaches from Basildon Cricket Club will be bowling them over with outdoor workshops designed to introduce even the youngest participants to the throwing, catching and wicket hitting skills of the game.

There are plenty of craft sessions from creating 'egg-ceptional' card, frames and bunnies, a unique Easter banner, funky foam mosaic or having fun with splatter painting (don't forget to dress for mess!)

Grown ups can come along and join in the Withy Willow Workshops, creating amazing structures to grace your home. Or what about experiencing life in Roman times, Horrible Histories style!

Any budding Dynamo (or Paul Daniels if you're over 30!) will love the magic shows and workshops. Those of a more artistic nature will delight in the joys of bead sculptures, collages and jewellery. And what youngster doesn't dream of being 007, Bond for a day - learning the secrets of spies and their gadgets and making a real spy film for showing at the end of an exciting day of espionage!

Add to this plenty of opportunity to let off steam on the fitness course and in circuit sessions and your children won't want these holidays to end!

Perhaps more importantly, since September 2011, over 2,000 holiday workshop places have been filled by the pupils of BEST schools who have participated in thousands of hours of sporting activities which they would otherwise not be able to access. Feedback from schools consistently reports that children involved in BEST Holiday Activity programmes return to school better prepared to learn and eager to show off their new skills. 

All activities MUST be pre-booked via the BEST booking line which is open between 9.30am and 4.00pm on Monday 11th and Tuesday 12th March ONLY. The number is 01268 498810 and you can find times, prices and many more details on the Basildon Education Services Trust (BEST) website. 

The partnership involves 37 schools, which are listed on the website, although there may be limited places for pupils from other schools. It is also important that you familiarise yourself with the terms and conditions of booking.

The BEST Holiday Activity programme is a fantastic community enterprise designed to equip Basildon children with confidence and skills for life, and is a fabulous fun filled way to fill your child's school holiday.