Student's First Language

This article provides guidance on how schools can assign First Language. It explains how to update these details in bulk or for individual students.

The primary purpose of recording a student's First Language is to identify students with English as an Additional Language (EAL) for census and funding purposes.

Where a student’s first language is not English:  If a student was exposed to more than one language during early development and continues to be exposed to this language at home or in the community, then a language other than English should be recorded as the first language, regardless of the student's current English proficiency.

Children who have British citizenship can still be EAL. If parents indicate on the child’s admission that the child speaks English as a first language, when it is clear that one or both of their parents is a speaker of another language, the child is very likely in fact to be EAL.

Schools can also use the following:

• Not known but believed to be English
• Not known but believed to be other than English where the following conditions apply:
  • • • student's first language is not known with absolute certainty
      • parents have not responded to enquiries
      • school can judge with a high degree of confidence whether the student's language is English or not
• Reused where a parent, guardian or student declined

First Language can be updated either using a Bulk Update or via an individual student profile. All students must have a first language recorded in Arbor as the DfE collects this data during the School Census (error 1840)

Using the Bulk Update page (recommended)

Go to Students > All Students > Bulk Update > Basic Student Details

Tick the tick boxes against the students you wish to edit. You can use column filters on the columns Native Languages and First Language to help you reduce the list of students or group the students by language.

Use the Bulk Action button to choose Bulk Set Language

In the slide over, you can see any existing native language and you can assign a First Language.  Click Save Changes.

The table will update.

Updating Language for a Single or Former Student

From the Student Profile choose to view the section Language Abilities & Teaching.  

Click on an existing language to edit, and it will open in a slide-over.

Only one language can be assigned as a First Language.  If the tick box is greyed out, review the student's other languages.

Adding a New Language for a Single Student

If you wish to add a new language, click on the +Add

Choose Language Ability

Start typing the language in the Language text box to find the language from the drop-down list.   You may optionally add proficiency and tick any of the relevant options. Click Add Language Ability to save.

Arbor Parent Portal

Parents/Guardians can also assign a first language to their child via the Arbor Parent Portal.  Language can be added or amended in both the mobile app and the website.

Language details are held in the Student Profile.

Click an existing Language to edit and tick the First Language option.

The change will be displayed as pending in the Parent Portal, and the amendment will be submitted to the school for approval. 

A new language can also be added in Parent Portal if required.

From the Add Information drop-down choose Add Another Spoken Language.

The language can be added, along with the proficiency and First Language option.