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 Department for Education (DfE) requires accurate reporting of a student's first language. This is the language the child first learned in early development and continues to be exposed to at home or in the community, as nominated by the parent, guardian, or student.

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 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

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 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 a First Language.  If the tick box is greyed out, review the students 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

Parent/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 or web application.

Language details are held in the Student Profile.

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

The change will show as pending in 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.