Lydia Dunford

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 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.