The DfE require data on language for all pupils. The school must not ascribe a specific language to the pupil. This information must come from the parent, guardian or pupil.
You should only use codes ENB (not known but believed to be English) and OTB (not known but believed to be other than English) where all the following conditions apply:
- pupil’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 pupil’s language is English or not
Where a parent, guardian or pupil declines to provide a first language, you should record it as ‘REF’ (refused).
Where a pupil’s first language is other than English - that is: where the pupil has been exposed to a language other than English during early development and continues to be exposed to this language in the home or in the community - schools may record specific languages from the extended language codes or continue to use the codes used in their software.
Click here to find a language code
Updated