Red Bus Nursery & Pre-School is part of Chalk Day Nurseries. As with all the settings within the group, Red Bus embodies the vision of high quality and childcare and education, delivering the very best outcomes for children in the local community.
Nurture
Create a safe, caring and supportive environment.
Trust
Build trust through transparency, honesty and reliability.
Respect
Promote mutual respect, inclusivity and dignity for all.
Alliance
Work in partnership with children, families and colleagues.
Inspire
Encourage creativity, innovation, curiosity, and imaginative play.
Sustain
Foster environmental awareness and responsible practices.
Together we cultivate a nurturing environment where children, families and colleagues can thrive. We inspire a lifelong love of learning, support each other’s growth and wellbeing, and build trust within our community.
Located on the edge of a Grade II registered parkland, Coombe Dingle is a stone’s throw from Sea Mills, Shirehampton, Lawrence Weston, Westbury-on-Trym or Stoke Bishop. And with the Portway and M5 only a few moments’ drive away, nowhere is that far from Coombe Dingle! There are multiple bus routes that pass close to the setting, as well as free street parking and bike racks - so however you travel, we’re easy to get to.
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Red Bus Downend was once ‘Wendover House’, a maternity hospital. Now the large rooms and original features provide a backdrop to our fantastic childcare provision! Set back from Downend Road, we’re easily accessible from the surrounding areas of Emersons Green, Fishponds, Frenchay, Mangotsfield – and with the Ring Road only a 5 minute drive away, much further afield too!
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Located on a quiet, leafy street minutes from a main road, Red Bus Flax Bourton embraces nature inside and out! The unique semi-rural location allows us to welcome those from Long Ashton, Failand, Nailsea and Backwell as well as being a short drive from Congresbury, Yatton, Chew Valley, Clevedon, Portishead and more! As well as plenty of free on street parking, multiple bus routes on the nearby main roads and the Festival Way cycle track passes the nursery. So we’re accessible, no matter how you travel!
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It’s up to you how far you go with Red Bus. Whether its an apprenticeship, training, expert specialisms or just being excellent at what you do – we’re here to support you.
The Red Bus Inspire Programme
If you’re a young person looking to start their Early Years career, our Inspire Programme will provide you with on-the-job training as well as time out of the room for training and mentoring sessions. You’ll get one-on-one time with our Training Coordinator as we support you through your qualification, and there’s a guaranteed job waiting for you at the end of your course!
Assistant Practitioners
There’s a lot of talk about being ‘qualified’ to work in Early Years. It can feel off putting sometimes but don’t fret – if you’ve got the passion, there could be a space for you at Red Bus! We have a great group of Assistant Practitioners who may not have formal qualifications, but bring a wealth of experience, ideas and energy to the team. Some people then choose to gain an Early Years qualification but no matter your career goals, we’ll make sure you are valued and supported.
Level 2 and Level 3 Early Years Practitioners
Practitioner by name and practice by nature! Our Early Years practitioners are totally focused on their key children and providing top quality care within their room. They support the management team to ensure all standards are kept high and consistent. This role is a base for many opportunities to further your career, not just in management roles but a chance to shine in specialisms such as SEND, Outdoor Play, E-Safety and more!
Management Roles
Our large rooms mean we can provide a solid management structure. Assistant Managers and Lead Practitioners support in room whilst Room Managers have time both with the children and out of ratio to work on important paperwork and planning. We have at least four members of management in each room – and we are always looking to grow our own! Some of our most senior positions at Red Bus are filled by people who started with us as practitioners or assistants. If growth is your goal, we can help you develop the skills you’ll need as a member of the management team.
Working in our Nursery room involves caring for children and babies under two years old. This is the perfect place for a nurturing, committed person ready to introduce new experiences to young minds! Nursery is the scene for building bonds and nurturing children through those early stages, from first steps to first words to weaning. Each of our nursery rooms has a play gym, ‘secret’ rooftop garden just for babies, and areas carefully designed with our youngest passengers in mind.
Kindergarten is where you’ll find our two and three year olds, a fantastic age where children’s independence blossoms! You’ll support children on their adventures, and the bonds you build mean you’re a safe place for them to return to for comfort and reassurance. You also get to support them through some great transitions, as they grow from babies into unique little people. Your days will be filled with fun, creativity and messy play!
Preparing for school is the end goal with the three to five year olds in Pre-School. Here the routine is slightly more structured, with plenty of learning through play, building resilience and confidence, and conversations that inspire awe and wonder. As a Pre-School practitioner you get to really know your key children, following their interests, likes and dislikes. From sipping cups of imaginary tea in the role play kitchen to creating amazing art at the Woodwork station – the Pre-School environment inspires and supports children as they learn to create their own play opportunities.
