Frequently Asked Questions
How do I Register?
Follow the steps below to register with iPayimpact. Alternatively you can follow along with our video guide linked below:
1. Before you begin, you will need:
- Your child’s iPayimpact Account Reference
- This unique code came from the school and links your new parent account to the correct pupil.
- An email address you can access right now
- You must click an activation link before you can sign in.
- A phone, tablet, or computer with internet access
- Registration works in the free iPayimpact app or any web browser at ipayimpact.co.uk.
2. Install or open iPayimpact
- On a phone or tablet
- iPhone/iPad: open the Apple App store and search for iPayimpact
- Android: open Google Play and search for iPayimpact
- iPhone/iPad: open the Apple App store and search for iPayimpact
- On a computer
- Go to ipayimpact.co.uk and click Register.
Tip: The first time you open the app you’ll be asked to allow Push Notifications. Tap Allow so you never miss a message from school (you can change this later in your phone settings).
3. Create your parent account
- Tap or click Register.
- Enter your information:
- Account Reference – paste or type your child’s code exactly as supplied by the school.
- Username – at least six characters (letters or numbers).
- Password – at least 8 characters and must include:
- Upper- and lowercase letters
- At least one number
- At least one special character (e.g. ! £ ?)
- The strength meter will turn green when it’s secure.
- Answer the quick maths question (stops spam bots).
- Tick Agree to Terms and choose Register.
- Anything highlighted in red needs correcting before you can continue.
4. Activate your account
- Look for an email from iPayimpact (check Junk or Spam if it isn’t in your inbox).
- Click the activation link in that email.
- Return to the app or website and Sign In with the username and password you just created.
- On phones you can turn on Fingerprint/Face ID for faster log-ins; browsers will offer to save your password.
5. Complete your parent profile
You’ll be prompted for your contact details (not your child’s):
- Address and Postcode – include the space in your postcode (e.g. SW1A 1AA).
- Mobile Number – numbers only, no spaces.
Tap Save My Profile. Adding these details now speeds up checkout later.
6. Switch on notifications
- Web users – click the notification banner at the top of the screen and choose to receive messages.
- App users – (if you didn't already accept notifications) open your phone Settings, then find iPayimpact from the list of Apps, select Notifications and switch on Allow Notifications.
With notifications enabled you’ll get dinner-money balance warnings, trip reminders, and other urgent school messages instantly. If push notifications are off, you’ll still receive emails.
7. You’re all set!
After saving your profile you’ll land on the Home screen showing your child’s meal balance. From here you can:
- Top-up dinner money.
- Pay for clubs, trips, and uniform (depending on how the school opts to use iPayimpact)
- View purchase history and messages.
- Add another child (see the How to link additional child accounts video).
- Save a payment card or set up Auto-Top-Up.
Troubleshooting and FAQs
- Activation email not arriving
- Check your Junk or Spam folder, search “iPayimpact”, or ask the school to resend the code.
- Forgotten username or password
- Click on Forgot Username or Reset Password options
- “Invalid Account Reference”
- Copy the characters exactly as shown on the school letter (watch for O vs 0).
- Child not visible after registering
- Attempt the Link Account option and enter their link key. Contact the school if you continue to have issues.
Updated July 02 2025 08:59