What to Do When the School Refuses to Provide an AVS: A Guide for Caring Parents

When the Support Your Child Needs Is Denied

You're not imagining it. Your child is struggling in the classroom—maybe it's attention, reading, anxiety around tests, or simply an overwhelming fatigue by the end of the school day. You’ve done what most parents would do: you got in touch with the teacher, asked for a team meeting, requested an AVS (Auxiliaire de Vie Scolaire — a school aid), and hoped for extra help. But the answer came back: “No AVS will be assigned.” And now, you’re left with frustration, a worried child, and the lingering question—what now?

If you're reading this, know that you are not alone. Many parents face this response when seeking academic accommodations for their children. While the system can sometimes feel like an immovable wall, there are thoughtful and proactive ways through it. This is a guide for those navigating the maze of school support denial, particularly when it comes to AVS allocation, and how to keep advocating effectively—for your child and your sanity.

Understanding Why the School Said No

First, it's important to understand the potential reasons behind the refusal. Schools often cite lack of resources, unclear diagnoses, or criteria not being met within the official frameworks. But lack of action doesn’t mean there’s no need.

If your child struggles with dyslexia, ADHD, emotional regulation, or any other learning difference that affects their daily schooling, know this: their need is valid, even if it doesn’t currently 'fit the box'. And while a refusal from the school can feel like a final verdict, in most cases, it’s just a junction where you take a new path forward.

Document, Document, Document

From this point forward, treat each conversation and step like a paper trail. Collect school reports, emails with teachers, and notes from specialists. Have your child evaluated by an educational psychologist or specialist if you haven’t already—documentation can make all the difference when proposing a re-evaluation of your child’s needs.

Once you have this documentation, you may want to revisit accommodations like the PPS or PAP, even if these were initially rejected. If so, this guide might help: What to do when the school refuses a PPS or PAP.

Build a Circle, Not a Battlefield

It’s natural to feel defensive or even angry when your child doesn’t receive the support they need. But long-term success often depends on converting feelings of opposition into efforts toward collaboration. Build relationships with teachers, school counselors, and other parents. Speak not only about your struggles but about how you can work together for your child’s benefit.

Share specific examples of how your child’s struggles manifest—what happens when they’re expected to read aloud or complete a timed exercise? How do they behave at the end of a school day? These stories matter, and not all teachers see what you do at home.

Sometimes, children who need help are seen as merely “difficult” or “distracted.” If you’ve ever felt that your child is misunderstood by their educators, you may find this article resonates deeply: How to help a child who feels misunderstood by their teachers.

What You Can Do at Home, Starting Now

Even without an AVS, there are meaningful ways to provide daily support. Your home can become a soft landing space and an empowering learning environment. And you don’t need to be a trained educator to make a difference.

One way is to adapt learning moments to suit your child’s strengths. If they struggle with written lessons, consider converting school materials into audio formats they can listen to on the couch, in the bath, or even during car rides. Apps like Skuli can transform a simple written lesson into a personalized audio story where your child is the main character—injecting curiosity, fun, and a sense of ownership back into learning.

You can also take photos of class notes or worksheets and turn them into short quizzes your child can tackle over breakfast or during a relaxed moment after school. Tiny shifts like these keep frustration levels low while reinforcing essential knowledge.

Advocating Without Burning Out

It’s okay to take breaks. It’s okay to cry in the bathroom while your child is in class, and it’s okay to not have the answers. Being the persistent advocate for your child’s rights can be exhausting, especially when you're constantly navigating refusals. Think of advocacy as a relay race—bring in your partner, a grandparent, or a friend to help email the school or sit in on meetings. You don't have to carry the baton alone.

Equally important: know your rights. In France and across many educational systems, children with diagnosed needs have legal access to adapted schooling. Learn how to escalate a request, make a referral to the MDPH (Maison Départementale des Personnes Handicapées) or an equivalent body, and speak with associations that support families in similar situations. This resource may guide you in that process: How to advocate for your child’s right to an adapted education.

Focus on the Human Before the Paperwork

An official diagnosis matters. So does structured support. But at the end of the day, it’s the daily experience of your child that counts. Whether that means a 10-minute audio story reviewing fractions or a calming bedtime routine after a hard school day, progress doesn’t always wear a label.

And never forget—as hard as this feels right now, you are growing your child’s feeling of safety, of being seen and fought for, something no AVS alone could ever provide. The system might falter, but your presence is unshakable.

For children with heightened emotional sensitivity, the daily school experience can be even more intense. If you think this could apply to your child, take a moment to read My highly sensitive child struggles at school: what support is available?.

Final Thoughts

Not getting what your child needs from school is a devastating moment—but it’s not the end of the story. Through documentation, creative learning strategies, tireless persistence, and a supportive home environment, you can build scaffolding around your child that holds them up as they grow. You are not powerless. In fact, you may be the strongest—and most important—support they’ll ever have.