The John Berne School’s priority is to prepare students for a return to mainstream education, for entering trade training or other employment options, and the staff pride themselves in achieving this. The students can present with challenging social, emotional and academic needs which require individualised programs aimed at developing or building on their skills which are behind same-aged peers. Nurturing these students requires staff who exercise enormous patience, unbounded love, provision of intensive support and gentle guidance. These qualities are critical in order to empower students to make the changes needed for success in education and wider society.