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Lydia Dunford-Anderson

Lydia Dunford-Anderson

Associate - Solicitor

Lydia Dunford is an Associate Solicitor in Boyes Turner’s Education team. Lydia is a published author of a legal practitioners’ guide on a specific area of SEND law.

Lydia ’s expertise includes:

Special educational needs

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0118 952 7233 Send an email

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

Professional Biography
Personal Biography

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 has been ranked in Chambers and Partners since 2022, where is she is listed as an “Associate to watch”.

Lydia has written a book entitled ‘A Practical Guide to Education Otherwise Than at School or College (EOTAS/C)’, published by Law Brief Publishing in March 2025.

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.

"Successful EHCP appeal "

We were at our wits end when we turned to Boyes Turner for help with our son’s education. We had no clue how to navigate the EHCP process or the SEN education system in general. Lydia guided us through it all, got us the evidence we needed to write our son a watertight EHCP giving him the correct support and finally - after a battle - got him into the right, specialist setting. It was a stressful and difficult process - local authorities know this complex system inside out whereas parents don’t - however having Lydia’s expert help made it feel a lot less stressful than it could otherwise have been. I always felt confident that we were getting the best advice and help out there. We feel that Lydia was really instrumental in getting his life back on track and giving him a chance at a successful future.

"Thanks - to Lydia Dunford"

My child has ASD, and their EHCP is quite clear that they require additional support - but the Council gave a place in an inappropriate mainstream school. I asked Boyes Turner for help with my appeal to the SEN Tribunal about the allocation. Lydia Dunford was amazingly helpful - she provided great advice, was always fast and responsive, and went above and beyond in drafting impactful submissions to the Tribunal. She offered coaching about how I should approach the hearing itself. Thankfully, the Tribunal judge found in our favour and the Council agreed to place our child in the school and ASD unit of our choice.

"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.

"Outstanding service"

Our son did not get a place at the Secondary School we had as our first choice, despite it being our closest school, him attending the nearest Primary feeder School and being the only child to apply from his year with an EHCP. Faced with the daunting prospect of appealing the decision with the SEND Tribunal, we decided to instruct a solicitor to give us the best possible chance of winning. After some research, I got in contact with Boyes Turner and within minutes knew I was making the right choice. Lydia Dunford took on our case and I was amazed at the sheer level of professionalism, organisation and empathy that she had. We were constantly updated throughout the process and every question answered. She was able to challenge the Local Authority regarding inaccuracies in the EHCP and get them rectified before even filing the appeal - something I likely would never have noticed until it was too late. The Local Authority conceded a matter of weeks into the case and I am in no doubt that it was because we had Boyes Turner on our side. I will be forever indebted to Lydia's work and highly recommend the firm to anyone who is looking to appoint legal representation.

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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