Your Pay and Benefits
Our pay scale is consistent and fair. We base your salary on your qualifications and experience, not your age. We put effort into ensuring your pay is ahead of industry averages and is reviewed at least yearly to ensure you’re paid fairly for your hard work.
We know how powerful word-of-mouth is, and as a member of Red Bus you have a lot of power! If you Refer a Friend to join the staff team, you could be in for a sizeable bonus!
If you are getting back to work after starting a family, we’re here to make it as easy as possible. If you want to bring your child along to Red Bus, we offer a staff discount on our fees.
Everyone deserves time off. That’s why we have an enhanced holiday offer, with an allowance that increases with time. Up to 25 days + 3 days Christmas holiday + all bank holidays = 36 days!
It’s always good to plan for the future. If you enrol in the workplace pension scheme, we will contribute an amount alongside yours.
We understand the dilemma of choosing between a day’s pay and your own health when you’re under the weather. To support this we have a paid sickness scheme.
In our industry there are always things to be done in the evening or weekends. We don’t ignore this, and give you a choice on how you’re compensated. You can either bank the hours under our TOIL system, saving it up and taking the time off when you like, or simply be paid for that time. It’s your choice!
Nurseries have opening hours, but we all know that shifts can extend before and after these sessions. Our shift system ensures you are compensated for preparing rooms in the morning and accounts for any late collections, built in as standard. Rest assured we will not encourage parents to arrive outside of opening hours - but you will be rewarded should it occasionally happen.
You should feel comfortable and confident in what you wear to work. We’ve thought hard to understand what this looks like, so we provide a choice of styles and colours - not forgetting inside and outside options!
If you’ve completed a practice-based higher level qualification (Such as an Early Years Degree, or qualifications in Forest School or SEND) you’re entitled to a £1000 allowance, added to your pay across the year.
Your Red Bus Journey
We want the best, so we can keep the best. Red Bus has an enviable track record of developing from within, and every person has the opportunity to achieve their individual goals. So the question really is - where do you want to go?
If you’re looking to grow into a management role, we’ve got you. Some of the highest positions at Red Bus are filled by people who started as practitioners! We can help you hone and develop the skills you’ll need for a management role. And it doesn’t stop once you’re in the position - we have regular Management Toolkit days so everyone can be confident in their role.
All Red Bus staff have an individual training plan catered to them, with regular courses to help you be the best you can be! We’ll work with you and your input - if there’s a particular skill you want to develop, we’ll help you get there.
We want all our staff to feel comfortable, safe and prepared in their roles. That’s why we offer free Paediatric First Aid, Manual Handling, and Safeguarding training courses as standard.
The Red Bus Inspire Programme has been thoughtfully created to support young people entering the Early Years sector. But no matter your age or experience, there is always room to grow. At Red Bus we back anyone who wants to learn - from Level 2 or 3 Early Years qualifications to branching out into different specialisms such as SEND. Our dedicated Training Coordinator is on hand to support our staff no matter where they are on their journey!
At Red Bus, you don’t have to stop at Level 3. We actively encourage and support staff to further their qualifications, which we know enhances our own practice! In return for that hard work, when you complete a practice-based higher level qualification you’re entitled to the additional Higher Education Allowance of £1000!
We have always taken responsibility for our own definition of what ‘Outstanding’ means – continually going above and beyond expectations! Our unique Red Bus Approach has been developed by our own in house experts, using carefully selected approaches, methods and pedagogies underpinning everything the EYFS should deliver. All of this provides practitioners with training, tools and the confidence to construct each individual child’s path of learning in a supportive environment.
Whether it’s more time with the family or a day at home to study – any employee who has passed probation can request flexible working, and we can offer a variety of solutions to balance work life and home life.
A work/life balance is so important…and there’s nothing livelier than a Red Bus party! We throw a big bash at least once a year. It’s a chance to let our hair down, relax, and catch up with the team. There’s great food, great music, and it’s all free!
We want to be an outstanding employer - and there’s nobody in a better position than our staff to let us know what that looks like! How do we do this? Confidential surveys and focus groups lead to tailored actions plans that really make a difference, delivering on our commitment to listen to our staff.
Looking after our young passengers is an incredible, important job – and we want you to feel valued every day for the amazing work you do! Our managers are equipped to appreciate their team in a variety of ways, from a simple ‘thank you’ to a fancy meal out. Being valued means different things to everyone, so we make sure it’s not just ticking boxes.
Each of our three settings are near main bus routes, as well as plenty of parking close by! For those who prefer two wheels we also have cycle racks at each setting.
Our HR app makes booking holiday, reading documents, and keeping up to date with company news easy. It’s all available on a mobile app!
We want to look after our children’s physical and mental health – and in order to do that, we make sure our staff are looked after too. Our Employee Assistance Programme provides 24/7 confidential support to both you and your immediate family. No matter the issue, your enquiry will be handled by experienced therapists or advisors to help you get the best out of life.
