Red Bus Nursery & Pre-School - Downend

Wendover House, 170 Downend Road, Bristol BS16 5EB
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9.1 27 Reviews
  • Red Bus Nursery & Pre-School - Downend, Bristol
Red Bus Downend was once a maternity hospital - now the large rooms and original features provide a backdrop to fantastic childcare provision!

Set back from Downend Road, it is easily accessible from Emersons Green, Fishponds, Frenchay, Mangotsfield – and with the Ring Road only a 5 minute drive away, much further afield too. It sits directly on a bus route from the city centre, there’s as dedicated parent car park as well as plenty of free street parking, as well as bike racks.

The Grade II listed building runs over four flours, including a bespoke kitchen and dining area in the basement. Each room is bright and open, with a unique layout which only adds to the charm. With calming sensory areas in Nursery, the 21 foot glass fronted yurt in Kindergarten, a one-of-a-kind Sensory Room in Pre-School and the huge freshly landscaped gardens that sweep around the building - there’s something for everyone at Red Bus Downend.
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Type of Service

  • Day Nursery
  • Open all year
  • Full Day Care
  • Sessional Day Care

Group/Owner

Person in Charge

  • Lynsey Elliott (Manager)

Number of Childcare Staff

  • 74

Total Places for Children

  • 116

Age Range

  • from 0 years 3 months
  • to 5 years 0 months

Funding & Fees

  • 3 Months - 3 Years
    Early Start: 7.30am-8am - £10.00
    All Day Session: 8am-6pm - £92.00
    AM session: 8am-1pm - £64.00
    PM session: 1pm-6pm - £58.00


    3 Years and Over
    Early Start: 7.30am-8am - £10.00
    All Day Session: 8am-6pm - £90.00
    AM session: 8am-1pm - £60.00
    PM session: 1pm-6pm - £54.00


    The above fees do not incorporate any Local Authority funded hours.


    • Full day funded session (10 hours): £26 total (£20 catering, £3 consumables, £3 enrichment) ++
    • Half day funded session (5 hours): £13 total (£10 catering, £1.50 consumables, £1.50 enrichment) ++
    • Part-funded session: Any hours not covered by funding are charged at a non-funded hourly rate of £9.40

  • Children must be booked to attend at least two full day sessions per week. Discounts are offered for siblings and full time bookings, please fill out an enquiry form to receive a detailed fee sheet. Please contact the setting for a more accurate estimate of costs where funded hours are taken.

Opening Times

  • Monday 07:30-18:30
    Tuesday 07:30-18:30
    Wednesday 07:30-18:30
    Thursday 07:30-18:30
    Friday 07:30-18:30

When Closed

  • Bank Holidays & 1 week at Christmas

Parking

  • They have a private car park for parents directly outside the nursery. Residential parking is also available.

Red Bus Nursery & Pre-School - Downend Reviews (27)

9.1

Red Bus Nursery & Pre-School - Downend has a Review Score of 9.1 (9.103) out of 10, based on 8 reviews in the last 2 years.
Over all time Red Bus Nursery & Pre-School - Downend has 27 reviews.

Overall Experience
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Reviewer Connection to Red Bus Nursery & Pre-School - Downend
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Total of 27, showing 21-27
Review from Wendy W (Mother of Child) published on 10 June 2016 Submitted via Postal Card • Report
Overall Experience 4.0 out of 5
Red Bus Nursery Downend opened in June 2015 so everything is nice and new which is a big bonus. The nursery staff are extremely warm and welcoming, each person is very caring and I've only ever experienced throughout interactions. Our key worker looks after our little one in with how we do things
at home (you fill in a form on their 'settling in' sessions) and is always open to hearing how we're during each morning and ready with an update when we ask each evening.
I've only marked the staff as good as the admin support can sometimes be a little brusque, although that could just be a difference in communication styles. Overall, I think that Red Bus Downend is a wonderful nursery and I feel extremely happy with their care of our little one.
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Review from Rizwana A (Mother of Child) published on 23 March 2016 Submitted via Postal Card • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
There is nothing I can complain about. The setting is beautiful, the staff are fantastic. Red Bus has a very welcoming environment and perfect structure to help children settle in. The activities are fun and makes learning fun. My daughter loves it at Red Bus from day one, although it take her a few
days to settle in. She enjoys going and has made lots of friends. She has become more confident.
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Review from Bex B (Mother of Child) published on 23 February 2016 Submitted via Postal Card • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
I'm so happy that Red Bus operates in our area. I feel that my son is both well cared for and nurtured by both the knowledgeable and friendly staff, and the well designed environment. They have plenty of outside space (where even the babies are taken out at least twice per day). Chickens, fruit trees,
a mud kitchen all outdoors. Indoors there is a wet room! I feel that this is the best nursery I could've hoped for, and he gets things he doesn't have access to at home. A fantastic place.
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Review from Sarah P (Mother of Child) published on 21 February 2016 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
Lovely building and grounds. The staff are all so kind, friendly and welcoming and my daughter loves it (particularly the chickens!) I love the updates we get from the parent zone app. This was particularly helpful in the first few weeks when my daughter, and myself, were getting used to being apart
and the staff were so good at letting me know early on in the day that she had settled well and was enjoying herself. They have been very supportive with potty training too. When I have any queries and have to contact the office they are always prompt in responding and incredibly helpful. I cannot fault this nursery. It's excellent!
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Review from Jason D (Father of Child) published on 3 February 2016 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
Our daughter has been at Red Bus since June 2015. She has loved every minute, the staff are friendly and welcoming, there is so much for her to do. The rooms have lots of fantastic equipment and the building itself is absolutely stunning. The garden is huge and our daughter loves going out to see the
chickens! Not a bad word to say, would recommend to anyone.
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Review from N N (Mother of Child) published on 2 February 2016 Submitted via Postal Card • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
I feel that Red Bus Downend is a great nursery. I'm really happy I've sent my daughter there. The staff are friendly and caring. The parent zone is great and the facilities are awesome.
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Review from Laura (Mother of Child) published on 26 January 2016 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
My daughter has attended the nursery Since July 15. Before starting at Red Bus she clung to me all the time (I couldn't even leave the room to make a cup of tea). Since starting at Red Bus, has changed into a confident toddler. She loves her key worker and when I drop her off, she doesn't even look
back to say goodbye. I was worried that as it's quite a big nursery my daughter would be just a number, but the staff know her really well. She sleeps and eats better than she does at home! The facilities are lovely, including the activity room, water room, nursery roof garden and the Coracle she naps in. The parent portal is great, as I am updated with her activities (eating, sleeping, nappy changing) and photos of her throughout the day. We are very happy with Red Bus and highly recommend it.
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Current Review Score: 9.1 (9.103)

Overview of Review Score

The Review Score of 9.1 (9.103) out of 10 for Red Bus Nursery & Pre-School - Downend is based on a) the Average Rating and b) the number of positive Reviews.

  1. The Average Rating is 5.0 out of 5 from 8 Reviews in the last 24 months.
  2. The score for the number of positive Reviews is 4.1 out of 5 from 8 positive Reviews in the last 24 months.

Detailed Breakdown of Review Score

The maximum Review Score for a Day Nursery is 10, which is made up from the Average Rating of Reviews (maximum of 5 points) and the Number of Reviews (maximum of 5 points) in the last 24 months:

  1. 5 Points are available for the Average Rating from all Reviews in the last 24 months. The Average Rating of 4.958 for Red Bus Nursery & Pre-School - Downend is calculated as follows: ( (92 Excellents x 5) + (4 Goods x 4) ) ÷ 96 Ratings = 4.958
  2. 5 Points are available for the number of Positive Reviews in the last 24 months. A Positive Review is defined as any Review with an 'Overall Experience' of '4' or '5' (out of a max rating '5'). The 4.145 Points relating to the number of positive Reviews for Red Bus Nursery & Pre-School - Downend is based on 8 positive Reviews in the last 24 months and is calculated as per below:

    The 5 points available are broken down as follows:

    1. 4 points are available for the first 10 Positive Reviews in the last 24 months; 3 points for the first Positive Review, and then 0.125 Points for each of the next four Positive Reviews and then 0.1 Points for the next five Positive Reviews. (1st = 3.000, 2nd = 0.125, 3rd = 0.125, 4th = 0.125, 5th = 0.125, 6th = 0.100, 7th = 0.100, 8th = 0.100, 9th = 0.100, 10th = 0.100) 3 + 0.125 + 0.125 + 0.125 + 0.125 + 0.1 + 0.1 + 0.1 = 3.8
    2. 1 point is available for the number of Positive Reviews reaching 20% of the number of registered child places in the last 24 months. If this number is partially reached, then that proportion of 1 point is given. eg a Day Nursery registered for a maximum of 50 child places has to reach 10 Positive Reviews to receive 1 point, if it has 7 reviews it will receive 0.7 points. 20% of the 116 number of registered child places is 23.2. 8 Positive Reviews ÷ 23.2 = 0.345
  3. When a Review is submitted by someone who has previously submitted a Review, only the latest Review will count towards the Review Score.
  4. If a Day Nursery does not have a review in the last 24 months, then it will not have a Review Score.

Child Vacancies

Please contact us for latest vacancies.

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Awards / Recognitions (1)

Meet the Team (2)

Lynsey

Lynsey Elliot

Job Title: Early Years Manager Joined: 2023

Lynsey is a very experienced manager, working in nurseries for over a decade. She joined us in January 2023.


In addition to her holding a BTEC Diploma in Early Years and a Degree in Educational Studies, she also has Early Years Professional Status (EYPS), Level 3 Forest School accreditation, Level 3 SENCO award and Level 3 Business Management. This is all a testament to Lynsey’s eagerness to keep learning and developing!

Rhiannon

Rhiannon Millett

Job Title: Practice Manager Joined: 2016

Rhi started her Red Bus journey in 2016 as a Level 6 Practitioner, after completing her degree in Early Childhood Studies. In 2017 she was promoted to Nursery Lead Practitioner and in 2020 became Practice Manager. Her role is all about managing and maintaining a high level of good-quality practice across the setting.

Information on this page is displayed without responsibility for its accuracy on the part of daynurseries.co.uk. Please contact Red Bus Nursery & Pre-School - Downend to verify any information. View our terms and conditions. Red Bus Nursery & Pre-School - Downend has an Enhanced Service - more info.