Glossary
ULN
Unique Learner Number
The ten-digit number that identifies a learner across providers and across years.
In full
A Unique Learner Number is issued through the Learning Records Service and stays with the learner for life. It is what allows prior learning and prior attainment to be recognised, and what allows activity at more than one provider to be seen together.
A wrong or duplicated ULN does not just affect one record. It can break prior-attainment checks, produce apparent duplicate learners across providers, and put funding at risk.
The rules behind this
The Unique Learner Number identifies a learner across providers and across years, which is how prior attainment, prior learning and cross-provider activity can be recognised.
Where this comes up
diagnostic
The Unique learner number 9999999999 must not be used
If the learner is on a Growth and Skills Offer Apprenticeship Unit, the Unique learner number (ULN) must not be 9999999999
diagnostic
This Unique learner number must not be used
If the file preparation date is on or after 1 January of the current teaching year, and the learner is an 'OLASS - Offender in Custody', and the aim has a planned or actual duration of less than 5 days and the Learning start date is 60 or more days before the file preparation date, the Unique learner number (ULN) must not be 9999999999
diagnostic
This Unique learner number must not be used
If the learner is on an apprenticeship funded through a contract for services with the employer (ACT = 1), the Unique learner number (ULN) must not be 9999999999
diagnostic
This Unique learner number must not be used
If the file preparation date is on or after 1 January of the current teaching year, and the aim is a funded aim and and is more than 5 days long, and the aim start is more than 60 days before the file preparation date, the Unique learner number (ULN) must not be 9999999999
diagnostic
This Unique learner number should not be used
If the file preparation date is on or after 1 January of the current teaching year, and the learner is an 'OLASS - Offender in Custody', the Unique learner number (ULN) should not be 9999999999
diagnostic
This Unique learner number should not be used
If the file preparation date is on or after 1 January of the current teaching year, and the learner is learner is Office for Students (OfS) funded, and the aim has a planned or actual duration of less than 5 days and the Learning start date is 60 or more days before the file preparation date, the Unique learner number (ULN) should not be 9999999999
Sources
These are the official documents this page rests on. Where a figure, a deadline or an exact rule matters, the document is the authority and this page is the explanation.
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