ECE updates

ELI: Getting Started in 2015

ECE services connected to ELI need to confirm ELI data at least once per month so we know it is complete and accurate. Data for the current month must be confirmed by the end of the following month. This means services’ December 2014 data should have been confirmed by the end of January 2015. You can still edit retrospective data once it has been confirmed; it will get updated the next time it is confirmed.

Confirming ELI data

ECE services connected to ELI need to confirm ELI data at least once per month so we know it is complete and accurate. Data for the current month must be confirmed by the end of the following month. This means services’ December 2014 data should have been confirmed by the end of January 2015. You can still edit retrospective data once it has been confirmed; it will get updated the next time it is confirmed.

Reminder about NSNs

All children enrolled in ECE must have a National Student Number (NSN). For children you think do not have an NSN, and/or new enrolments, the first step you should take is to search for the child within the National Student Index (NSI) to see if they have previously been allocated an NSN.
If parents do not supply the required official identification documentation within two weeks, you will need to call the Ministry on 0800 ECE ECE (0800 323 323) to have unverified NSNs created and assigned to these children. When you call, please make sure you have the following at hand:

• Child’s full official name
• Date of birth
• Gender

If you have more than five children that require an unverified NSN to be created for them, please send this information through in an email to:
e.admin@minedu.govt.nz

Unverified NSNs can be updated once official identification documentation is produced, by calling 0800 ECE ECE (0800 323 323).

February 2015 funding round

If your service recently submitted an electronic RS7 Return, we would love to hear about how you found the new process. 

Need help?

• If you have forgotten your login details to access ELI Web, ELI Reports, or the National Student Index (NSI), you can re-set your account by using the Education Sector self service portal: http://bit.ly/15Xuqtt. The How to reset your education sector account document under the Resources tab on the ELI Homepage provides instructions on how to do this: http://bit.ly/1BAyjQk(external link)
• For any other questions and help with ELI, visit the ELI Homepage
  • http://eli.education.govt.nz/(external link)
  • contact the Ministry on 0800 ECE ECE (0800 323 323)
  • email ELI.queries@minedu.govt.nz

Revised guidelines for Home-Based Services for Regulations 28(2)(C)

The Ministry of Education and home-based ECE sector representatives have worked together to develop new guidelines that clarify how home-based ECE services can meet the requirements of regulation 28(2)(c).

The regulation requires a home-based service coordinator to “take all reasonable steps each month to observe each child participating in the service while that child is receiving education and care.”

This means coordinators are expected to have monthly face-to-face contact with all educators and children enrolled in the service. Observations should primarily occur in the home where the child receives education and care, during their enrolled hours.

As well as assessing the provision of education and care, the coordinator can check the home is a safe environment that is being maintained to meet licensing standards. The best way to achieve this is by visiting the home regularly.

The new guidelines set out general advice and information about what happens during a coordinator visit, what “reasonable steps” to visit a child might look like, how to meet the requirement during holiday periods or when faced with persistent child absence or unexpectedly sleeping children, what the conditions for observations outside the home setting are, and what records the coordinator or service should keep as evidence the regulation has been met.

The guidelines are on ECE Lead:
http://bit.ly/16PfpKO(external link)

Things to note

Next issue of update

• The next ECE Update will appear in Volume 94, Issue 4
• If your service does not currently receive the Education Gazette you can subscribe by going to: www.edgazette.govt.nz(external link)

Ordering resources and publications

To order early childhood education resources and publications, contact Wickliffe.

Wickliffe provides customer services for the Ministry of Education publications. If you need to order anything:

• phone: 0800 660 662
• fax 0800 660 663
• email orders@thechair.govt.nz

Useful links

• Ministry of Education(external link)
• Lead ECE(external link)
• Education Counts(external link)
• Software for learning(external link)