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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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.

https://panspandasuk.org

https://www.facebook.com/panspandasuk/

https://www.instagram.com/pans_pandas_uk/

https://x.com/PANSPANDASUK

tina.coope@panspandasuk.org

Resources for Education Professionals

Training

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

We have been involved with Special Educational Needs for over 25 years, helping show the small steps of progress pupils with SEND make. B Squared has worked with thousands of schools, we understand the challenges professionals working in SEND face. We wanted a way to support these hardworking professionals - which is why we launched The SENDcast! Click the button below to find out more about how B Squared can help improve assessment for pupils with SEND in your school.

Did you know that children with Down syndrome have a different learning profile?

Ahead of World Down Syndrome Day this Saturday, Sarah Holton from Down syndrome UK, joins Dale to tell us how we can 'support children with Down syndrome to reach their full potential'. Sarah is a specialist advisory teacher and parent to two children, one of whom has Down syndrome. She shares practical, research‑informed strategies to help children with Down syndrome thrive.

Why listen?

• Understand the Down syndrome learning profile (strengths like visual learning; challenges like hearing, visual acuity, and verbal short‑term memory).
• Get classroom‑ready tips: use visuals, scaffold carpet time, teach play skills, and adapt materials for better inclusion.
• Discover the support available.

"It's really important that we make sure that we are finding ways for our children with Down syndrome to show what they know."

Sarah Holton

View all podcasts available or visit our SENDcast sessions shop!

Sarah is our Specialist Advisory Teacher and leads our Early Years Development Programme. Sarah has worked with DSUK for many years developing our PEGS programme, delivering regular behaviour bootcamps and Information Sharing Sessions on topics including early reading, numbers and choosing a preschool. More recently she has been involved in the development and delivery of our Early Years Development Programme. She is a mum to two children, one of whom has Down syndrome.

https://downsyndromeuk.co.uk/

https://www.facebook.com/PositiveaboutDownSyndrome/

https://www.instagram.com/positive_about_down_syndrome/

Education@downsyndrome.co.uk

https://www.linkedin.com/company/down-syndrome-uk/

https://www.youtube.com/@positiveaboutdownsyndrome

Early Years Development Programme

Primary Development Programme

• 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

We have been involved with Special Educational Needs for over 25 years, helping show the small steps of progress pupils with SEND make. B Squared has worked with thousands of schools, we understand the challenges professionals working in SEND face. We wanted a way to support these hardworking professionals - which is why we launched The SENDcast! Click the button below to find out more about how B Squared can help improve assessment for pupils with SEND in your school.