What is ALNCo (Additional Learning Needs Coordinator)?
Also known as: ALN coordinator, additional learning needs co-ordinator
An ALNCo (additional learning needs coordinator) is the member of staff in a Welsh school, pupil referral unit or further education college who has strategic responsibility for learners with additional learning needs. The role was created under the ALN system in Wales and replaced the SENCo role there.
The ALNCo makes sure that learners with additional learning needs (ALN) are identified and supported properly. The ALN Code for Wales 2021 describes the role as strategic: the ALNCo should either be part of the senior leadership team or have a clear line of communication to it. Day to day, the ALNCo coordinates individual development plans (IDPs), advises colleagues, works with parents and carers, and liaises with the local authority and health services.
If you are a small provider taking learners from Welsh schools, the ALNCo at the learner’s school is often your main contact about their needs and their plan.
England and Wales
In England, the equivalent role is the special educational needs coordinator (SENCo), who works under the SEND Code of Practice rather than the ALN Code. The purpose is similar, but the legal framework, plans and paperwork are different.
Why it matters for your setting
- Knowing who the ALNCo is lets you ask the right person about a learner’s IDP and support.
- You can share progress and concerns quickly, which helps IDP reviews.
- Recording the ALNCo against each learner saves hunting for contact details when something changes.
How PupilDB helps
PupilDB records each pupil’s SEN/ALN status alongside their ALNCo, so the right contact is always on the pupil’s record.
Related terms
Last reviewed 24 September 2026. General information, not legal advice. Always check the current official guidance. Back to the glossary
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