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%
2 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
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.
Solicitor 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.
Was this review helpful? Yes
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.
Solicitor 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