Solicitor at Boyes Turner LLP
Lydia Dunford
Solicitor - Associate - Solicitor
SRA ID: 600881
Lydia joins the Education team as a solicitor. Her experience of special educational needs and disability (SEND) law includes all stages of the Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) process, from requesting an EHC Needs Assessment, advising on Local Authority refusals to assess or issue/amend an EHCP, amending draft EHCPs, appealing final EHCPs, and preparing for and attending annual reviews and meetings with schools and Local Authorities. Lydia also represents parents and young people at SENDIST. Lydia has a particular interest in autism, speech and language difficulties, motor skills difficulties and sensory needs. In order to achieve successful outcomes when representing and advising parents/carers of children and young people with SEND, Lydia forms close links with educational settings, including mainstream, specialist and residential. She also builds effective working relationships with professionals such as Educational Psychologists, Speech and Language Therapists, Occupational Therapists, and Physiotherapists. Lydia regularly attends conferences on SEND law, and SENDIST User Groups, to update her continuous professional development. Lydia has given presentations to parents and carers on SEND law, covering topics including What is in involved in an EHC Needs Assessment’ and How to check that the contents of an EHCP are worded lawfully’. Lydia is a member of both the Law Society and the Education Law Association.
Abbots House, Abbey Street, RG1 3BD
Licensed for 5 years
Practice Areas
Education
- Education 100%
5 Client Reviews
Overall experience
- Value For Money
- Approachability
About Lydia Dunford
Lydia joins the Education team as a solicitor. Her experience of special educational needs and disability (SEND) law includes all stages of the Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) process, from requesting an EHC Needs Assessment, advising on Local Authority refusals to assess or issue/amend an EHCP, amending draft EHCPs, appealing final EHCPs, and preparing for and attending annual reviews and meetings with schools and Local Authorities. Lydia also represents parents and young people at SENDIST. Lydia has a particular interest in autism, speech and language difficulties, motor skills difficulties and sensory needs. In order to achieve successful outcomes when representing and advising parents/carers of children and young people with SEND, Lydia forms close links with educational settings, including mainstream, specialist and residential. She also builds effective working relationships with professionals such as Educational Psychologists, Speech and Language Therapists, Occupational Therapists, and Physiotherapists. Lydia regularly attends conferences on SEND law, and SENDIST User Groups, to update her continuous professional development. Lydia has given presentations to parents and carers on SEND law, covering topics including What is in involved in an EHC Needs Assessment’ and How to check that the contents of an EHCP are worded lawfully’. Lydia is a member of both the Law Society and the Education Law Association.
Languages Spoken: English
Contact Lydia Dunford
Resume
LICENSE
Country
Status
Acquired
Updated
United Kingdom
Currently Registered
01/02/19
08/04/22
Successful EHCP appeal
We were at our wits end when we turned to Boyes Turner for help with our son’s education. Following two failed school placements, he was worryingly depressed and withdrawn. 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. The best part of all is that this positive outcome has been life-changing for our son. He’s gone from talking about ‘having no life’ to being happy in school and making plans for his future. We feel that Lydia was really instrumental in getting his life back on track and giving him a chance at a successful future.
Lawyer named in this review: Lydia Dunford
Lydia Dunford from Boyes Turner LLP responded to this review on 25 September, 2024
Thank you so much for your lovely review! I'm delighted with the outcome for all of you! Lydia
Was this review helpful? Yes
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.
Lawyer named in this review: Lydia Dunford
Lydia Dunford from Boyes Turner LLP responded to this review on 07 August, 2024
Thank you for your lovely review, and I hope all goes well for starting secondary school!
Was this review helpful? Yes
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.
Lawyer named in this review: Lydia Dunford
Lydia Dunford from Boyes Turner LLP responded to this review on 09 July, 2024
Thank you so much for your kind words, and I hope all goes well for starting secondary school! Lydia
Was this review helpful? Yes
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.
Lawyer named in this review: Lydia Dunford
A representative from Boyes Turner LLP responded to this review on 22 February, 2024
Dear Clare, We are grateful for the wonderful review you shared about your experience working with Lydia. Thank you for choosing Boyes Turner and for taking the time to share your positive experience.
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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.
Lawyer named in this review: Lydia Dunford
A representative from Boyes Turner LLP responded to this review on 10 May, 2022
Thank you for your review. We appreciate the positive feedback and we are happy to hear we were able to guide you through these stressful times.
Was this review helpful? Yes