The former term AVS — Auxiliaire de Vie Scolaire, or school life assistant — has been replaced by AESH — Accompagnant des Élèves en Situation de Handicap, or support worker for students with disabilities — with no change in function.

 

AESH support workers can be either public, paid by the local authority, or private, funded by the families.

 

Unlike public AESH workers, private AESH support is generally supervised, as families must sign an agreement with an association approved by the French National Education system.

 

This requirement did not apply in the case of Lennen Bilingual School, as it is a private school outside the state contract system.