Various – ECE Update (3.88)
Description
The Department for Education (DfE) has updated its Eligibility Checking specification. As a result, we are releasing changes to ensure full compatibility with the new Eligibility Checking Engine (ECE), which replaces the existing ECS service.
The DfE has confirmed that the ECS service will be switched off at the end of March. These updates are essential to maintain uninterrupted entitlement checking.
Feature updates are available in the week beginning 23rd March for the 3.86 and 3.87 releases.
These changes have been included in the main 3.88 release.
What’s Changing?
Key changes include:
- Migration to the new ECE API
All entitlement checks (FSM, EYPP, 2YO, and 30 hour Working Families) now use the new ECE service. - Updated authentication
Support has been added for the new working families OAuth scope.
This scope is required by the DfE specifically for Working Parent (30 hour) entitlement checks. It applies only to the Working Families entitlement. - Automatic re-run of 30 hour Working Families checks
ECE based re-run logic is now fully implemented. - Updated status mapping
ECE returns different statuses from ECS. MRI now maps these to new, clearer system statuses. - Qualifiers removed
ECE no longer returns qualifiers.
MRI now:- Does not store qualifiers
- Treats them as null
What You Will See
Single checks
- Eligible
- NotEligibleECE
- NotFoundECE
- ParentNotFound
Bulk checks
- FoundAndEligible
- NotFound (all other outcomes)
Bulk Check Behaviour
The current ECE service does not yet provide the more detailed, granular outcome statuses for bulk checks that are available for single checks. Bulk checks therefore continue to operate as they do today.
As soon as the DfE updates the specification, provides enhanced bulk outcomes, and makes this information available through the ECE feeds, we will update our system to support the improved detail.