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Lydia  Dunford

Lydia Dunford

Associate - Solicitor

Lydia Dunford is an Associate Solicitor in Boyes Turner’s Education team. She specialises in the Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) process, and has developed her knowledge of this area of Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND) law since her first legal role as a paralegal. Lydia also received a distinction for her university undergraduate dissertation on SEND law.

Lydia ’s expertise includes:

Lydia Dunford is well regarded for her work in the education sector where she is adept at appearing before the SEND Tribunal on a range of matters including the provision of Education, Health and Care plans.

She instils great confidence and is very reassuring and efficient. Lydia was completely professional and always kept me in the loop and gave me great options. She knew what needed to be done and really explained the legal process.

Lydia is an associate to watch.

Chambers 2022

Lydia ’s professional biography

Lydia has a sound knowledge base of SEND legal issues and the appeal process. She advises and supports clients from the initial request for an EHC Needs Assessment, up to a final EHCP being issued and beyond. Lydia consults with schools, experts and local authorities during EHCP matters and appeals, and is able to achieve successful outcomes for a number of her clients through negotiations. Lydia represents clients at the SEND Tribunal, including for Health and Social Care extended appeals, and has had positive outcomes in all hearings, often exceeding clients’ expectations. Lydia has experience of complex appeals and case manages them from beginning to end, securing significant packages of education and social care support. 

Lydia is ranked in Chambers and Partners, and has been for the past two years, (2022 and 2023), where she is listed as an “Associate to watch”. Lydia has authored an in-depth article looking at the evolution of Education Otherwise Than At School (EOTAS), published on Snap Care’s website, and a further version on Autism Eye’s website. She has also authored further articles and factsheets on EHCP topics for other organisations. Lydia is a member of both the Law Society and Education Law Association.

Lydia is a sponsor for Dogs for Good, a UK based charity training dogs to help adults and children with physical and/or learning disabilities, children with autism and adults with dementia. Lydia has sponsored many puppies over the years through their initial training to become specialist assistance dogs.

"SEN Secondary School Placement Appeal"
We launched an appeal over KCC's placement decision. Expertly guided by Lydia Dunford the appeal was successful and our preferred school was finally named in the EHCP. We could not have achieved the outcome without Lydia's professionalism and she was a tremendous help in a very stressful situation.
"True experts and lovely to work with"
We had the pleasure of working with Lydia Dunford at Boyes Turner who guided us through a tribunal with our LA to get our son's EHCP accurately reflecting his challenges (and subsequently the support/setting he needs). Having spent years getting nowhere, Lydia's counsel resulted in a successful outcome, and our son now has a place at the best possible school for him. Lydia is a true SEN expert - she is supportive and explains things clearly and concisely in what can often be an emotional journey for us parents! We highly recommend her and Boyes Turner.

News articles by Lydia

Press Releases by Lydia

Podcasts by Lydia

Videos by Lydia

Webinars by Lydia

In her spare time Lydia loves reading, walking (ideally in the countryside), gardening and playing clarinet in a local wind band.

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