Strengthening our education training offer
Every child and young person with PANS or PANDAS deserves to be understood, supported and able to access education that meets their needs. Improving awareness and understanding within education has therefore always been a key priority for PANS PANDAS UK.
Since 2021, our education programme has supported thousands of attendees, helping schools, colleges and wider professionals better understand PANS and PANDAS and the practical approaches that can make a difference.
The programme has received consistently positive feedback and now includes CPD-accredited training for teachers and Educational Psychologists.
As awareness of PANS and PANDAS continues to grow, so has demand for training. This presents an important opportunity to review and strengthen our education offer so that it remains accessible, sustainable and able to meet future need. This article explains the changes and developments we have made, and how we plan to support even more educators to understand PANS and PANDAS.
Strengthening support for schools and professionals
Throughout the Autumn Term 2026, we will be reviewing and strengthening our education programme so it remains useful, accessible and responsive to the needs of schools, professionals, children and young people affected by PANS and PANDAS.
This work will include:
- Updating training content in response to evidence, guidance and feedback.
- Exploring more flexible ways for professionals to access learning.
- Developing more advanced and specialist learning opportunities.
- Finding sustainable ways to meet growing demand for training.
Alongside our monthly Twinkl TeachMeet sessions, we will be trialling two new pilot training formats:
- A two-part twilight programme delivered across two 90-minute sessions.
- Three-hour group session delivered as a single event.
Both formats are designed to provide more in-depth learning while offering different options to suit participants’ preferences and availability.
We have now updated the training for educators section of our website to reflect these new training models. A new booking and enquiry form is also available for schools, education settings and professionals who would like to book bespoke training, join a TeachMeet session, or register interest in future training opportunities.
Our CPD-accredited Educational Psychologist training will also be considered as part of the wider programme review. We will share any further updates about this separately.
Our monthly Twinkl Teachmeet sessions will continue throughout the Autumn term. These 45-minute sessions provide a practical introduction to PANS and PANDAS for education professionals.
Investing in education
To support this next phase of development, we are delighted to welcome Gemini Boyd as our new Education Training Programme Manager.
Gemini brings extensive experience in education and training and joins us at an important stage in the development of our education programme. This additional capacity will help us strengthen our training offer, respond to feedback and expand support for schools and professionals.
“I am very excited about my new role and the opportunity to expand the reach of our training to ensure that professionals feel confident supporting the children and young people they work with.”
The Education Training Programme Manager role has been made possible through generous funding from The James Tudor Foundation. Their support is helping us strengthen and develop our education programme so that more schools, professionals, children, young people, parents and carers can access high-quality information, training and support.
Building a sustainable future
Delivering high-quality, evidence-informed training at increasing scale requires additional capacity, ongoing development and investment in resources. To continue improving support for schools and professionals, we will be introducing a stepped charging model for some elements of our training programme.
This does not mean that all training will become paid for. We expect our future offer to include a combination of free and paid opportunities, and we remain committed to ensuring that support remains as accessible as possible. As a charity, our goal is not profit; any income from training will be reinvested into our education programme and wider charitable work, helping us sustain and grow support for families affected by PANS and PANDAS.
Looking ahead
Over the past five years, families have told us how much difference informed and understanding education professionals can make to a child’s or young person’s experience of education.
My child’s teacher attended the PANS PANDAS UK Teacher Training, and I just can’t thank the charity enough. It has transformed the support provided by the teacher, and the impact on my daughter’s ability to better engage with school is phenomenal. Thank you, from the bottom of my heart. – a PANDAS parent.
The next phase of our education programme is about helping more schools and professionals gain that understanding, while ensuring the programme remains sustainable and able to grow. Our focus remains unchanged: improving educational experiences and outcomes for children and young people with PANS and PANDAS.
We would like to thank everyone who has supported the programme since 2021, including the schools, professionals, parents and carers who have attended training, shared feedback and helped shape its development. We will share further updates throughout the Autumn Term and report back on the review and pilot work in January 2027.
More information
How much are you charging for training?
We are currently reviewing and piloting the next phase of our education programme and exploring pricing options that are fair, accessible and sustainable.
Further details about the revised programme, including pricing and booking arrangements, will be shared following the Autumn Term review and pilot period.
Will you charge for all training?
No. We expect our future offer to include a combination of free and paid opportunities.
What will happen to the money raised through training?
Any income generated through training will be reinvested into wider charity activities including funding our education programme and the ongoing development of training and resources. This will allow us to increase training capacity, reach more schools and professionals, maintain our CPD-accredited offer, and continue responding to evidence, guidance and best practice.
How long will the review take?
The review and pilot phase will take place throughout the Autumn Term 2026.
In January 2027, we will review the pilot activity, consider participant feedback and evaluate what has worked well. We will then confirm the next phase of the programme and share further details of our future training offer.
This approach will help ensure that any changes are informed by feedback, practical experience and the needs of the communities we serve.
We will keep our community updated as this work progresses.
Is this training relevant in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland?
PANS PANDAS UK supports children and young people affected by PANS and PANDAS across the UK. This training is currently designed for the English education system, but we recognise that families and professionals in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland need resources that reflect their own education systems. As the programme develops, we hope to adapt our resources to better meet those needs. Further Scottish-specific support is available here. Scottish families can also access support from PANS+ Scotland.
