FAQ - Universal Login for parent-users

Tes Parents' Meetings - New login experience for parents 

From June 2026 

Introduction 

Tes is introducing Universal Login for parent users of Parents' Meetings (and, where relevant, Clubs & Events). As part of this change, parents will create or link a Tes Universal Account. It uses the same secure login framework already used by school staff. 

This update will: 

  • Introduce a modern, secure email-and-password login for parents. 
  • Retire legacy login methods that were previously managed by schools. 
  • Move parent authentication onto Tes Universal Login infrastructure. 
  • Support stronger security, improved account management, and future product integrations through Tes Universal Accounts. 

This FAQ is for school administrators. It explains the upcoming login changes and gives you clear guidance to help parents when Universal Login goes live at your school. 

✅ General Questions

What is a Tes Universal Login? 

Tes Universal Login is the standard way to sign in to Tes products. It’s the shared login journey (pages, buttons, and messages) used across all Tes services. 

What is a Tes Universal Account? 

A Tes Universal Account is a single, secure account that lets users access multiple Tes products using one email address and one password. It removes the need to manage separate logins for different Tes services. 

Why is Tes introducing Universal Login for parents? 

Tes is introducing Universal Login to simplify sign-in and improve security for parents. As part of this change, parents will create or link a Universal Account, giving them one email address and password that can be used across linked Tes services over time. 

What’s changing? 

When Universal Login is activated for your school, parents can expect: 

  • To sign in using an email address if they are not already doing so. 
  • To create a Universal Account or link an existing one. 
  • To continue using Parents' Meetings as normal, because this change affects login only and does not change data or product features. 

Will all customers move to Universal Login? 

Yes. Eligible customers will move to Universal Login in phases over the coming months. As part of that rollout, parents will create or link a Tes Universal Account, providing simpler access and stronger security across Tes products. 

What benefits will I see in future? 

Over time, Universal Login and Tes Universal Accounts may support benefits such as: 

  • A single login across Tes products 
  • A more joined-up experience across services 
  • Simpler onboarding where schools use multiple Tes products 
  • Future improvements that rely on secure, central account management 

✅ Roll‑out Process 

When will Universal Login be activated for my school? 

Tes is enabling Universal Login for customers in phases starting in June 2026. Until your school is activated, parents will continue to log in as they do today. 

Will all Parents' Meetings customers be migrated at the same time? 

No. To support a smooth transition, schools will be migrated in stages starting from June 2026. The rollout is expected to take several months.  

How will I know when it’s my turn to switch? 

Once your school has been enabled, parents will see the new Universal Login steps the next time they sign in. School administrators will also be notified within the Parents' Meetings application. You should use this FAQ to prepare your team to answer parent questions during the change. 

✅ Universal Login: Linking or Creating Your Account 

What happens after activation? 

When Universal Login is activated for your school, parents will be guided through one of the following steps: 

  • Creating a new Universal Account if they do not already have one. 

    The process should only take a few minutes, or 

  • Linking to an existing Universal Account if their email address is already associated with one. 

What if a parent username is not an email address? 

If a parent currently uses a username that is not an email address, they will be asked to provide an email address. That email address will then become the username for their Universal Account. 

Why use email address as a username? 

An email address provides a consistent way to identify and secure a parent’s account across Tes products. This makes it possible to support one login for multiple services. 

Will parents need to change password? 

  • If the parent already has a Universal Account, they will usually keep their existing password. 
  • If the parent is creating a new account, they may be asked to set or update a password so it meets Tes security requirements. 

What if parents don’t have an email address? 

An email address is required to use a Tes Universal Account. We expect all parents will have an email already for Parents' Meetings (as this is how they are invited for bookings). However, if a parent does not have an email, school administrators will need to create or provide an email address in the MIS/SIS, or the ‘Data-parent’ section of Parents' Meetings, before a parent can continue using Parents' Meetings. 

✅ Using Your Universal Account 

Does this change how parents log in? 

Yes. Once Universal Login is activated for your school, parents will be guided through the new sign-in journey. If they already use a Universal Account for another Tes services, they will be able to link Parents' Meetings to that account. 

How is Single Sign-On (SSO) affected?  

Schools that already have parent single sign-on configured will continue to use it. However, new parent SSO set-ups will not be introduced as Tes plans to replace this with a future solution. 

Will this affect my data or any integrations (such as MIS integrations)? 

No. This update changes login only. Parents’ data, existing integrations, and product features in Parents' Meetings will remain unchanged. 

Why do Universal Account login details work for some Tes products but not others? 

Not all Tes products are connected to Universal Accounts at the same time. If a parent can use their Universal Account for one Tes product but not another, it simply means that product has not yet been linked. 

✅ Managing Passwords & Accounts 

How do I change a parent's password? 

Parents are responsible for managing their own passwords. School administrators cannot reset a parent’s password. If a parent needs help, direct them to use the “Forgot your details?” link on the login page. 

What if a parent forgets their password? 

Advise the parent to use the “Forgot your details?” link on the login page. If their Parents' Meetings access is linked to a Universal Account, the password reset will apply to other linked Tes services as well. 

Can I delete a parent from Parents' Meetings? 

Yes. School administrators can continue to remove and unlink parents from Parents' Meetings in the usual way. This removes the parent’s access to the product so they can no longer sign in to Parents' Meetings. 

Can I delete or unlink a parents Universal Account? 

School administrators cannot delete a parent’s Universal Account directly. However, removing the parent from Parents' Meetings will unlink their access to that product and prevent them from signing in to Parents' Meetings. 

✅ User Management & Access 

Has the process for creating new users in Parents' Meetings changed? 

Not significantly. The main difference is that new parent users will no longer be asked to change a username on first login. Instead, they will be guided to create or link a Universal Account. 

How do I know which Tes products support Universal Login? 

Many Tes products already support Universal Login, and others will follow over time. Where Universal Login is available, parents can create or use a Universal Account as part of the sign-in journey. For the latest product-specific information, check the relevant Tes product guidance. 

✅ Technical Questions 

How are credentials transmitted through Universal Login? 

Credentials are transmitted securely between Parents' Meetings and the Tes Universal Login system using HTTPS and standard certificate-based protection. 

What happens if there’s an issue communicating with Universal Login? 

If there is a temporary connection issue, parents may be unable to sign in for a short time. They will see an on-screen message, and the issue is usually resolved quickly. If the problem continues, raise a support case. 

✅ Privacy & Security 

Will this change the way Tes processes my data? 

No. The introduction of Universal Login and Universal Accounts does not change how Tes processes personal data. Parents and schools should continue to refer to the standard Tes privacy policies for information about data handling. 

Will this improve security? 

Yes. Universal Login uses updated security standards, stronger password controls, and modern authentication methods to improve protection across Tes services. For parents, this results in a more secure Universal Account experience.