Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department is taking to ensure local authorities meet their duties under Section 19 of the Education Act 1996 in respect of children with PANS and PANDAS who are unable to attend school; and when the forthcoming local authority guidance on supporting these children will be published.

Paediatric Acute-onset Neuropsychiatric Syndrome (PANS) and Paediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorders Associated with Streptococcal Infections (PANDAS) are uncommon acute-onset conditions that can cause a sudden deterioration in a child’s emotional, cognitive and functional abilities. Symptoms can lead to the acute onset of special educational needs and can have an immediate impact on learning, wellbeing, participation and attendance.

Section 100 of the Children and Families Act 2014 places a duty on maintained schools, academies and pupil referral units to make arrangements to support pupils with medical conditions, including those with PANS and PANDAS. Schools should ensure that pupils with medical conditions can access and enjoy the same opportunities as their peers, including school trips and physical education.

In doing so, schools must have regard to the department’s statutory guidance, ‘Supporting pupils with medical conditions at school’ which is available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/supporting-pupils-at-school-with-medical-conditions--3.

In March, the department consulted on revised guidance on supporting children and young people with medical conditions. This will be published in due course.