Hi Everyone,  I just wanted to make you aware of these articles published in SecEd and Headteacher Update this week re the medical conditions of PANS and PANDAS, and how they can impact on children and young people in education.Best wishes Tina Headteacher Update SecEd 

It's a great opportunity on PANS PANDAS Awareness Day to try and increase awareness about these post infectious medical neuro-psychiatric conditions across education and allied professionals.Following onset, children and young people can unexpectedly develop SEND and the symptoms can very easily be misinterpreted, leading to a delay in diagnosis and treatment.- Much more information is available on the SEND network including a members interview. - https://send-network.co.uk/videos/membership-interview-with-tina-coope-pans-pandas-uk# 

Awareness of these abrupt onset neuropsychiatric conditions is still low across the board of health, social care and education professionals although awareness is now growing.  We are thrilled for the families and young people that we are supporting to have an article included in NASEN Connect. There have been significant developments in health re PANS and PANDAS over the last 18 months. Clinicians/related professionals are now working on gathering the incidence figures, creating consensus treatment guidelines and disseminating information across education networks. If you haven't heard of these conditions, please take a few moments to read this article. https://issuu.com/nasenconnect/docs/nasen_summer24_singlepages_3839eece822706/41

Many families have reported the onset of sensory needs in their children (alongside multiple other symptoms with onset).  This new research by Newby et al echoes their experiences. It demonstrates that :  Children with PANS/PANDAS can develop sensory processing needs, and that these are more severe during a flare Children can continue to experience sensory processing needs during remission. More research is needed to find out the longer-term picture of whether some children are going back to their baseline (re sensory needs) following a flare. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/1440-1630.12935https://www.panspandasuk.org/post/understanding-the-connection-between-pans-pandas-and-sensory-needs-latest-research-findings https://tinyurl.com/yxsbsmdf  Further information and links on PANS and PANDAS For further education resources - https://www.panspandasuk.org/panspandas-for-educators  For general health and education support for families please go to - https://www.panspandasuk.org  For further health updates and information - https://www.panspandasuk.org/working-group-update  Recent presentation on PANS/PANDAS at the annual BPNA conference- https://www.panspandasuk.org/post/pans-and-pandas-in-the-spotlight-at-bpna-conference 

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-12772009/How-common-viruses-make-body-attack-brain-leave-facing-trauma-twitching-hallucinations.html An education story that we hear time and time again from families supporting children with these conditions.  How can we start to get these conditions included in the education agenda?  

Hi all,  I'm Tina a former teacher who has worked across mainstream, AP, and as a Nurture teacher. At the age of 7, a close family member developed the horrific onset of multiple and severe neuropsychiatric symptoms. Years later we came to the diagnosis PANS and PANDAS, and I discovered the PANS PANDAS UK private Facebook support group where thousands of other families were reporting almost identical stories and symptoms. Fast forward to my current role of education Lead for PANS/PANDAS UK.  We now have almost 6000 families  supporting children with symptoms of suspected or diagnosed PANS or PANDAS with the numbers rapidly growing.  Families have historically faced huge challenges with a timely access to diagnosis and treatment, but huge strides have been made in the medical profession over the last year including a recent Parliament debate.  Schools have received very little (if any training) about the conditions. They also have several unusual characteristics which is adding to the challenges, but more and more teachers are reporting to us that they have children with this diagnosis in their school.  Every year on the 9th October is PANS PANDAS Awareness Day. Please take a moment to read this blog. It could literally change a child's life.  https://send-network.co.uk/posts/have-you-heard-of-pans-or-pandas#:~:text=with%20Streptococcal%20Infections-,PANS%20and%20PANDAS%20are%20post%2Dinfectious%20autoimmune%20and%2For%20neuro,%2C%20chickenpox%2C%20or%20influenza).