Belle Tutaev Lifetime Achievement Award 2023

LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT

And the winner is…

We celebrate the remarkable career of Sue Butler, Principal of Plus Three Nurseries in Berkshire and the winner of this year’s Belle Tutaev Lifetime Achievement Award

Sue’s early years journey has spanned almost three decades. During that time, in addition to her current role as Principal of Plus Three Nurseries, she has also managed military nurseries in Germany, regularly raised money for children in her local community through fundraising events, and currently holds the position of Early Years Forum Representative for Bracknell Forest Borough Council, providing a powerful voice for local providers.

Throughout lockdown, Sue provided regular home learning sessions for children at her setting as well as calls of reassurance to worried parents and carers – and last year she made Christmas hampers for those vulnerable families that she recognised were struggling, which she took great pride in personally delivering.

Sue has also supported orphans and other children affected by genocide in Rwanda through regular volunteering visits. On these trips, she provides individual learning opportunities and experiences in schools/ nurseries for orphans and children affected by the genocide against the Tutsi in 1994. She personally sponsors four children through education and has afforded them with unique life-changing opportunities.

She enthusiastically involves the nursery children in the planning of her trips, raising awareness that children around the world are less fortunate and discussing differences in countries and cultures. Upon her return, she shares photographs, videos and stories with the children and families about her trip.

Sue also regularly raises money for children in the wider community through teddy tombolas, and since 2016, has raised more than £10,000.

Her nominator Victoria said of Sue: “My words to describe Sue are empathetic, compassionate, supportive, thoughtful, positive, kind, patient, dedicated, committed and enthusiastic. She is totally selfless, self-driven, ridiculously organised and always has a plan to positively move forward in any situation.

“She continuously supports her children and teams to be the best version of themselves and is extremely proactive regarding wellbeing and mental health. She uniquely mentors others, providing opportunities for everyone to have a voice and to be heard. She is generous and kind, regularly rewarding achievements and recognising loyalty, commitment, and hard work.

“Her heart is pure gold.”

Testimonials

Mrs Butler … has provided endless support and encouragement, positivity, fun and calm. She was my “Fairy Godmother” – she always had a way of waving her magic wand over any difficult situation and providing a solution.

Sue always sees the best in everyone she meets and goes above and beyond to improve their wellbeing. She provides opportunities for people to reach their full potential and is often heard saying ‘believe in yourself like I believe in you’.

I have known Mrs Butler since I was three years old and at Plus Three Nurseries. She used to come and visit us regularly at nursery and I remember always being so happy when she came as she was always so interested in what we were playing/doing and always so caring. Out of all my teachers from nursery and school, Mrs Butler was the only one who kept in touch regularly through my Mum… she would send us a family Christmas card and send me a fluffy dog to add to my collection! I now have 8 of them!

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