Information for SMS Integration

Information and documents for SMSs interested in connecting to ELI.

New SMS integration to the ELI system: January 2020 tranche

The Ministry is now accepting applications from new early childhood education SMS vendors to undergo an assessment for the January 2020 tranche. Applications must be received by 11 October 2019. The Ministry can only support two successful applicants for the January 2020 tranche.

Please note that after the January 2020 tranche, the Ministry will reassess the need to support any further ECE SMSs integrating to the ELI system.

Applications for the 2020 tranche will be assessed on a ‘first in first served’ basis and incomplete applications will not be accepted. All applicants will be advised of their order in the assessment queue.

Applicants that do not meet the criteria and/or requirements can re-submit their applications, but the re-submission will be placed in the queue according to the re-submission date.

The first two successful applicants will be invited to work with the Ministry to complete the ELI integration process, which is expected to take 12-16 months. Prior to starting the ELI integration process, the Ministry will advise the successful applicants of timelines, sequence of events and expectations. The successful applicants will be required to sign an agreement that sets out expectations and responsibilities of both parties.

If any successful applicant cannot complete the ELI integration process, the Ministry will assess the remaining queued applications and work with the next successful applicant to start the ELI integration process.

The SMS must meet the following criteria at the time of application:

1. SMS Development Criteria 

• The SMS must already be developed (as per ELI Integration Specification Information below) with all intended functionality including the NSI and ELI requirements such as:
  • child creation
  • child enrolment
  • child booking schedule
  • 20 Hours ECE
  • attendance marking
  • annual ECE Return data (e.g. staff details and qualifications)
  • RS7 Return (e.g. calculation for funding periods).

• The developed SMS must be capable of supporting:
  • Centre-based (includes Education & Care, and Kindergarten) and Home-based services
  • sessional and all-day licensed services
  • a minimum of 50 services
  • early learning services to meet funding and regulatory requirements (as per the ECE Funding Handbook and Regulatory Framework for ECE).

• The remaining development left to do during the ELI integration process are the National Student Index (NSI) and ELI integration components (i.e. interface to NSI and creation of events and transmission of events to ELI).

2. SMS Operational Support

• Please refer to the ELI/NSI SMS Vendor Integration & Operational Support Approach document.

Application Documents

Please send the following Application Documents as attachments to ELI.Queries@education.govt.nz