Trust Appoints Lead for Safeguarding and Educational Welfare

By Sam Kail-Dyke – Wessex Learning Trust

The Wessex Learning Trust is very proud to announce the appointment of Dawn Tomkies as the newest member of its growing central team. Dawn comes to the Trust from Somerset County Council to take on the role of Trust Safeguarding and Educational Welfare Lead, and will be responsible for co-ordinating support for vulnerable children across our schools and work actively with our learners, their families and professional agencies to impact the protection of vulnerable children.

Before joining the Trust, Dawn spent more than ten years within the Family Intervention Service as a Team Leader in Sedgemoor, specialising in Attendance and SEND. She has a passion for education and helping young people to achieve; both academically, and in all areas of Emotional Health and Wellbeing.

When asked what she looked forward to the most about her new role, Dawn said:

“I’m looking forward to working with all the students across the Trust but especially those vulnerable individuals who, sometimes, achieve their best with some additional support and advocacy in both learning and wellbeing to ensure they are receiving the best possible school and multi-agency experience”.

Trust Safeguarding and Educational Welfare Lead, Dawn Tomkies

Chief Executive of the Trust, Gavin Ball, commented on Dawn’s appointment:

“I am very excited to welcome Dawn to our central team; I firmly believe that she will bring a huge amount of knowledge, experience and expertise to this role and our organisation, and help enable us to continue to support our most vulnerable learners so that they can thrive during their time in our schools”.

Chief Executive, Gavin Ball

As we emerge from the COVID-19 pandemic it is more important than ever that we have appropriate support in place for all our learners, and as such the Trust looks forward to Dawn starting in her new position later this month and is excited to share what she gets up to in the role.