The SENDcast Understanding PANS and PANDAS: Bridging the Gap in Education and Health with Tina Coope
Did you know that common infections, like strep throat, can cause a neuroinflammatory response affecting the brain?
Today we're raising awareness of difficult to diagnose and often misunderstood conditions – Paediatric Acute-onset Neuropsychiatric Syndrome (PANS) and Paediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorders Associated with Streptococcal Infections (PANDAS). Tina Coope, a former teacher and parent whose daughter experienced sudden neuropsychiatric symptoms, explains how PANS and PANDAS present, why they're often missed, and what schools can do to support affected children.
This episode explains:
- What PANS and PANDAS are: what they are, typical triggers, and common symptoms.
- How they can mimic or overlap with neurodivergence yet require medical recognition and timely intervention.
- Classroom-ready guidance: spotting multiple unexplained changes, documenting patterns, making immediate needs-led accommodations during flares, and planning flexible support during recovery.
- Resources and training available.
- Why early recognition, careful recording, and good communication between school and family can make a huge difference.
"You're looking for multiple unexplained changes. They are uniformly, hugely distressing across the board of those symptoms."
Tina Coope
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About Tina Coope
Tina Coope is a former teacher with a Master's in Education and a rich background across mainstream and special schools. She's led specialist Autism provision and founded a Nurture unit in an infant school. When her daughter suddenly developed severe neuropsychiatric symptoms at age 7, Tina's professional and personal worlds collided.
Driven by lived experience, Tina became the Education Lead for PANS PANDAS UK in 2021, where she created the UK's first teacher and educational psychology training course on the conditions, and developed extensive resources for educators and allied professionals. She now co-chairs the national Education, Social Care and Health Group, shaping guidance for Local Authorities.
Contact Tina
https://www.facebook.com/panspandasuk/
https://www.instagram.com/pans_pandas_uk/
Useful Links
Resources for Education Professionals
Local Authority Information and Update
- B Squared Website – www.bsquared.co.uk
- Meeting with Dale to find out about B Squared - https://calendly.com/b-squared-team/overview-of-b-squared-sendcast
- Email Dale – dale@bsquared.co.uk
- Subscribe to the SENDcast - https://www.thesendcast.com/subscribe
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