THE Wessex Learning Trust has appointed a new safeguarding and educational welfare lead. 

Dawn Tomkies has joined the trust from Somerset County Council, where she spent 10 years working for the Family Intervention Service as a team leader in Sedgemoor.

She specialised in attendance and working with children with special educational needs and disabilities.

She will be responsible for coordinating support for vulnerable children across the trust's 16 academies in Cheddar, Wedmore, Nailsea, Axbidge, Brent Knoll, East Brent, Lympsham, and Winscombe.  

Dawn will also work actively with learners, their families, and professional agencies to help protect vulnerable children.

She has a passion for education and helping young people achieve academically and in all areas of health and wellbeing. 

Discussing her new role at the Cheddar-based trust, 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."

Gavin Ball, chief executive of Wessex Learning Trust, said: "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."

Dawn will start her new role later this month.