Custom Somtoday integration development
Appfront builds custom Somtoday integrations that make pupil, grade, timetable and absence data from Somtoday available to your education app, parent or pupil portal, LMS or BI dashboard. Via the Somtoday REST API and OAuth, we synchronise the data read-only, scoped and GDPR-proof, so your application always works with up-to-date school data, without duplicate entry.
What is a Somtoday integration?
Somtoday is the student administration and student monitoring system (LAS/LVS) developed by Topicus, widely used in Dutch secondary education. Schools record grades, timetables, absence and homework in it, and the system handles communication between school, parent and pupil. For schools and software suppliers, Somtoday is therefore the central source of up-to-date pupil data.
In practice, a custom integration means reading pupil, grade, timetable and absence data from Somtoday via the REST API and passing it on to your own education app, parent or pupil portal, LMS or BI dashboard. The integration is typically read-heavy, with data retrieved periodically or on request, so your application always works with up-to-date school data without duplicate entry.
Appfront builds according to Topicus's Somtoday Connect approach and the OWASP ASVS security standard. Access to the API runs through the Somtoday partner programme. We align the endpoints, synchronisation frequency and error handling with your actual educational processes, so the integration stays reliable, including during busy periods such as parents' evenings.
Up-to-date pupil data
Pupils, classes, grades, timetables and absence directly from Somtoday, with no manual exports or outdated lists. Your app or portal always shows the current position as it stands in the source system.
Read-only synchronisation
The integration is read-heavy and only retrieves what is needed. Your application receives the right pupil, grade and timetable data, while Somtoday remains the leading system for data entry and management.
Privacy by design
Data about pupils, who are often minors, requires care. Scoped OAuth access, data minimisation and the privacy covenant for education are built in from the design stage, not added afterwards.
Our development process for Somtoday integrations
We work to a proven methodology that removes uncertainty early and delivers a stable integration. From an initial analysis of your educational processes, data requirements and access through the Somtoday partner programme, to go-live and ongoing management, every step is aimed at an integration your team can understand and trust.
We map out which pupil, grade, timetable or absence data you need from Somtoday, which application it must go to, which schools are taking part, and how access through the Somtoday partner programme will be arranged.
We design the integration architecture, select the right OAuth flow and endpoints, and establish an error-handling and caching strategy.
Implementation with automated tests, structured logging and monitoring. You see working builds along the way.
Controlled go-live with data validation and a safety net, followed by ongoing management and further development.
What a Somtoday integration delivers in practice
Every Somtoday integration is set up specifically for your educational processes, data requirements and adjacent systems. Below are the features we most often deliver for schools, consortia and edtech providers working with Somtoday data.
Pupil and class synchronisation
Pupils, classes, groups and enrolments from Somtoday automatically available in your application. Changes such as new pupils or class transfers are picked up, so your system does not fall out of step with the source system.
Grades and results
Retrieve grades, test results and progress from Somtoday for a parent or student portal, a custom app or an analytics tool. Results are exposed read-only, so Somtoday remains the leading system for recording grades.
Timetables and absence
Synchronise lesson timetables, changes and absence or truancy records to your portal or planning tool. Pupils and parents see the current timetable; mentors and pupil coordinators get timely visibility of absences.
Parent and pupil portal
A custom portal or app in which students and parents can see grades, timetables, homework and absences — powered by Somtoday. With your own branding and functionality that suits your school, on top of the reliable data from the source system.
LMS and learning materials integration
Connecting Somtoday to your LMS, learning materials platform or digital learning environment, so that pupils and teachers work with the correct groups and accounts. Pupil and class data form the basis for access to learning materials.
BI dashboards & reporting
Pass grade, progress and absence data from Somtoday on to Power BI or another BI platform for school leadership and governing boards. Gain insight into trends by class, year group or subject — with due attention to privacy and aggregated views.
Typical use cases in practice
A Somtoday integration works quite differently from one organisation to another. We see a number of recurring patterns, and for each of them we have a working setup that gets the right endpoints, scoped access and the privacy of pupil data right.
Secondary schools
Secondary schools that use Somtoday as their source system and want to feed their own parent or pupil portal, app or planning tool. Grades, timetables and absences flow through automatically, so pupils and parents always see the current position. See also our API integrations.
Education federations
Boards and school federations with several secondary schools that want to bring together data from different Somtoday environments. A single integration that handles the right scoped access per school, with central reporting and monitoring across the whole group.
Edtech developers
Builders of education software and edtech start-ups that want to integrate their product with Somtoday as a data source. A reliable integration via the Somtoday Connect API, built to scale and with the scoped access that the partner programme requires.
Learning materials suppliers
Publishers and suppliers of digital learning materials that need pupil and class data from Somtoday to set up accounts, groups and progress automatically. Less manual work at the start of the school year, and always the right pupil with the right material.
Technology we use
We build Somtoday integrations with the Somtoday REST API (Somtoday Connect by Topicus) and OAuth, combined with the backend stack that suits you. The exact choice depends on your data needs and adjacent systems, so that your own team can manage or further develop the implementation.
For schools that also want to show timetables from Xedule in their own app or learning environment, see our page on a Xedule integration.
For suppliers of learning materials that exchange pupil data and results under Edustandaard, see our page on a UWLR integration.
For suppliers that want to import pupils, groups and teachers from multiple pupil administration systems, there is our page on an EDEXML integration.
Why choose Appfront for your Somtoday integration?
Appfront has extensive experience building API integrations for a wide range of organisations in the Netherlands. We always start with a thorough analysis of the existing systems and processes. An integration has to be technically sound, but it also has to add practical value to your educational processes.
For every integration, we write clear documentation and make sure your own team, or any future supplier, can understand and manage it. No black box, just transparent code and clear agreements on monitoring, alerting and maintenance.
You work with a dedicated point of contact who understands both the technical and the functional side. This keeps communication short, prevents misunderstandings and speeds up decisions when choices need to be made during development.
Also see our wider services around API integrations, middleware, custom software and web app development. If your school works with a different system, take a look at our Magister integration.
- Experience with the Somtoday REST API, OAuth and read-only synchronisation
- Specialist in integrations for education and complementary education software
- Familiar with pupil, grade, timetable and absence data
- Secure by default — scoped tokens, token rotation and data minimisation
- Structured error handling and retry mechanisms
- Comprehensive logging and monitoring from day one
- Clear documentation your team can read and manage
- A fixed point of contact, no account managers passed around
- Ongoing maintenance and proactive further development
- Approach tailored to your existing IT landscape and the partner programme
Security and privacy in Somtoday integrations
A Somtoday integration processes data about pupils, who are often minors. That calls for extra care: data minimisation, scoped and read-only access, and compliance with the Dutch education privacy covenant (privacyconvenant onderwijs). Appfront builds to the OWASP ASVS security standard, with OAuth tokens held in secure vaults, scoped permissions and sharply separated rights per integration. We only retrieve the data that is genuinely needed for the purpose of the integration.
We document the data flows, endpoints and authorisations so that your record of processing activities is complete and you can demonstrate compliance with the GDPR. Access runs through the Somtoday partner programme, together with the agreements and data processing agreements that come with it, so that the school, supplier and Topicus all have a clear view of who processes which pupil data and why.
More on our security approach: information security policy and CVD policy.
- GDPR-compliant data processing and data minimisation
- Dutch education privacy covenant as the starting point
- Encryption in transit (TLS 1.2+) and at rest
- Scoped, read-only and role-based access
- Audit logs with traceable data flows
- Automatic retries and dead-letter queues
- Monitoring and alerting for anomalies
- Documentation for your record of processing activities
Frequently asked questions about Somtoday integrations
Answers to the questions we are asked most often about Somtoday integrations.
A Somtoday integration is a technical link between Somtoday, the pupil administration and pupil tracking system from Topicus for secondary education, and another system, such as your education app, parent or pupil portal, LMS or BI dashboard. Through the Somtoday REST API (Somtoday Connect), pupil, grade, timetable and absence data is read and synchronised. The integration is typically read-heavy: data is retrieved periodically or on demand, so that your own application always works with up-to-date school data.
A Somtoday integration makes sense when your school, umbrella organisation or edtech product uses Somtoday as the source system for pupil, grade and timetable data in secondary education. Somtoday is strong in secondary education. If your school uses Magister, a Magister integration is the more logical choice; for primary education, systems such as ParnasSys are a better fit. Together we'll work out which source system should lead and build the integration that suits it.
A simple integration — for example, retrieving student and grade data read-only for a single portal — can go live relatively quickly. More complex scenarios with multiple data sources, timetable and absence synchronisation, multiple schools under one umbrella organisation and an integration with an LMS or BI dashboard usually take more time. Access to the Somtoday Connect API goes through Topicus's partner or integration partner programme; we include that process in the planning. After an introductory conversation, we give you a realistic estimate.
We work with the Somtoday REST API (Somtoday Connect by Topicus) and OAuth authentication, combined with the backend stack that suits you: Node.js, Python, PHP or .NET. For pupil, grade, timetable and absence endpoints we set up a read-only synchronisation with caching and error handling. For reporting, we can pass the data on to Power BI or another BI platform; for learning materials, to your LMS.
The cost is determined by the complexity of the data flows, the number of systems and schools to be connected, the required synchronisation frequency and the amount of custom business logic. Ongoing management, monitoring and support also affect the total investment. We always provide a clear quote following a no-obligation analysis of your situation.
Yes. A Somtoday integration processes data from pupils who are often minors, so privacy is central. Appfront builds in line with OWASP ASVS and the Dutch education privacy covenant: data minimisation, scoped read-only access, OAuth tokens held in secure vaults, and strictly separated permissions for each integration. We only process the data that is genuinely needed, document the data flows for your record of processing activities, and configure the integration so that you can demonstrably comply with the GDPR.
Yes. Appfront regularly takes over existing integrations, even if they were originally set up by another party. We review the API integration, the OAuth configuration, the data flows and the error handling, document the current setup and propose improvements. From that point on, we can handle adjustments, extensions and monitoring, including timely token rotation.
A Somtoday integration suits secondary schools, education groups, edtech builders and suppliers of additional education software who want to work with Somtoday data. Typical use cases: a parent or student portal with grades and timetables, a custom education app, an integration with an LMS or learning resources platform, and BI dashboards for school leadership and boards. For schools on Magister or in primary education, we will work with you to find the integration that fits best.
Ready to build your Somtoday integration?
Tell us which student, grade, timetable or absence data you want to make available from Somtoday, and to which app, portal, LMS or BI environment it should go. We are happy to help you think through endpoints, scoped access and the route via the partner programme. A no-obligation first conversation will give you a clear picture of the possibilities within half an hour.