Thanks to AOPA discussing the problem directly with the right people at the CAA, the Authority has agreed to permit PPL flight training conducted before 2012 to be credited towards the Part-FCL PPL or LAPL. The regulatory method being that the student pilot must apply for a '14(4)' exemption before taking the Skill Test.
Currently, this exemption takes about 10 working days to process and is then valid for 2 months. So don't apply too early - and make sure that you've got the exemption in your sweaty paws before taking the Skill Test!
So we've probably saved several people several ŁK as a result?