When Bentley first joined us two years ago, school felt overwhelming. With time, support and lots of practice, he’s learnt how to build trust and self-belief. Today, he feels prepared to take the next step. Success in 2025 for Bentley has meant rediscovering a sense of readiness; the feeling of being equipped, supported and ready enough to return to campus.
“I’m the one who wanted to go back to mainstream school. It was nobody else’s idea. I am proud of how I have grown, listened to myself and my needs, and found courage. It was all me,” says Bentley.
Bentley’s teacher, Kimberley Liss, reflected on how Bentley first presented as a student at VSV.
“Bentley has been with us for Years 3 and 4, and I have been his teacher for both years. He has always enjoyed having a chat to his teachers and peers and loves to share his thinking and ideas.”
Over the past two years, Kimberley and her VSV colleagues have supported Bentley to engage in using tools and strategies to rebuild his confidence. Care was taken to get to know him, his interests and his strengths. Regular check-ins and conversations about how Bentley felt about school and learning helped to respond to his individual needs. Through positive reinforcement and feedback about his effort in all learning tasks and online classes, Bentley developed better emotional management, communication, and self-regulation strategies.
As Bentley noticed his confidence growing, his family watched the same changes unfold at home.
“Bentley became increasingly aware of how to communicate accurately about how he was feeling. He trusted himself, voiced his needs and advocated to make daily tasks manageable,” says dad, Selina.
“Online learning through VSV saved our family. It’s the raw truth. Bentley had an extremely traumatic time at his previous mainstream school. The outstanding support and comfort through VSV allowed us as parents to reset the stigma around learning. It wasn’t the learning he didn’t like; it was the fact he didn’t feel safe at all. Online learning created a safe place for Bentley to achieve incredible heights with his learning.”
Selina describes the growth she’s seen in her son as ‘unthinkable, unimaginable positive change’.
Committed to supporting Bentley’s goals, Selina set about contacting the local school and collaborating with them on a transition plan for Bentley. The result is what will be a shared enrolment with VSV and the local school, as Bentley and his family navigate the next steps in this inspiring transition. Between Bentley, the family, the local school and VSV staff, Selina is certain that communication was the key to success.
“Openness and willingness to work as a team… This created a path of great understanding. We could then put in place the best process and procedures for Bentley, creating incredibly positive outcomes!”
While Bentley acknowledges that those first steps back onto campus felt “hard” and “different,” his resilience has carried him forward. Today, Bentley speaks with a confidence that reflects just how far he’s come. Looking ahead to 2026, he’s clear-eyed and ready for what’s next:
“Making friends and learning new things. I’m so ready and excited!”
We are proud to walk alongside students and families through every stage of their learning journey. Bentley’s success story reflects what becomes possible when care, collaboration and patience create the conditions for confidence to grow.
