Developing our understanding of PANS and PANDAS for educational psychologists and allied professionals

edpsy hosts: Gillian Mathewson, PANS PANDAS UK

Learning outcomes

By the end of the session attendees should:

• Be aware of the conditions of PANS and PANDAS including the diverse presentation and range of potential impacts on children and young people.
• Understand the importance of early identification and treatment for children and young people and the relevance to educators.
• Begin to identify appropriated educational accommodations and adjustments for children and young people living with these conditions.
• Demonstrate a growing awareness of some of the educational challenges specifically associated with PANS and PANDAS within the context of the current landscape.

Booking and discounts

Group booking discount of 20%

Ideal for services and groups of professionals, benefit from a 20% discount when 5 or more places are booked at the same time.

Use promo code ‘EDPSY20‘

TEPs and students

Trainee EPs, trainee psychologists and students can benefit from a 40% discount.

To benefit from this you must:

• Register for the event using your university email address
• Use promo code ‘EDPSYTEP40‘

If you do not use your university email address to book, we may ask you to confirm that you are a trainee/student.

Why it’s important to attend

PANS and PANDAS are conditions that often appear very suddenly and affect the physical and mental health of children and young people. They develop in the wake of common infections (such as Covid-19, chicken pox, influenza, or strep A in PANDAS cases), when the infection subsequently causes a misdirected immune and/or neuroinflammatory response. PANS and PANDAS diagnoses are on the rise thanks to recent progress in the medical field.

Both PANS and PANDAS have been recognised as discrete diseases by the NHS. Multi-disciplinary professionals are currently working nationally to advance clinical care, and to raise awareness across the board of education, social care and health professionals. Both PANS and PANDAS can have a crippling impact on a child or young person’s education, due both to the often-sudden onset and the wide range of areas they can affect.

Unlike other conditions that show gradual signs, these conditions can cause abrupt and severe unexpected learning difficulties. Limited awareness amongst professionals, coupled with symptom overlap with Autism, ADHD, and anxiety disorders for example is causing low levels of wellbeing and poor educational outcomes for children and young people living with these conditions.

Gillian Mathewson

Gillian Mathewson is the PANS PANDAS UK Teacher Trainer and Representative for Scotland. She is a registered teacher, and was formerly a Principal Teacher of Mathematics. She is also a parent with lived experience.