Faster, easier payments for you and your families
A payment option that takes care of the admin for you
Tapestry Pay, powered by Unipass, is designed to simplify everyday financial processes within your setting. Once enabled, Tapestry Pay will:
- Automatically match incoming payments to invoices
- Reduce time spent reconciling accounts
- Provide with a view of every payment’s key information, e.g., method and transaction date
- Offer families multiple secure payment options directly from their invoices
Everything is recorded within your Tapestry account, so you stay in control while spending less time on admin.
Getting started with Tapestry Pay
Tapestry Pay only needs to be set up once per Tapestry account.
After uploading your banking information, Unipaas will review and approve your application. At that point, you’ll be able to start accepting payments via Tapestry Pay without any further configuration.
Please note: If you manage multiple Tapestry accounts, you’ll need to complete the setup process separately for each account.
Managing Tapestry Pay
The Tapestry Pay portal gives you a clear overview of all payment activity.
From here you can:
- Monitor how families are choosing to pay
- Check transaction dates
- Choose which payment methods families can pay with
- Download reconciliation reports
Parent payments just a tap away
Tapestry Pay makes it simple for families to settle invoices.
When a new invoice is issued, families can select ‘Pay Now’ directly from their invoice, and settle the payment then and there through their preferred method:
- Apple Pay and Google Pay
- Credit or debit card payment
- Bank transfer
- Tax-Free Childcare
They can do this from the web browser, or whilst on the go via the app!
Have You Got Questions about Tapestry Pay?
If you have other questions not covered here, do drop our friendly Product Support team an email! We’d love to hear from you.
FAQs for Managers
Is Tapestry Pay secure and reliable?
Yes. Tapestry Pay is backed by an authorised payment institution regulated by the UK Financial Conduct Authority (FCA).
Payments are processed by Unipaas Financial Services Limited (“Unipaas”), an Authorised Payment Institution (Licence No. 929994).
Tapestry Pay is also PCI DSS Level 1 certified, the highest industry standard for card payment security. This ensures that all customer payment data is handled and protected to the strictest security requirements.
How can I start using Tapestry Pay?
To begin using Tapestry Pay, you’ll need to complete a short application process. During registration, you’ll be asked to provide some key information, so we recommend having the following ready:
- Your URN (Unique Reference Number)
- Your bank account number and sort code (where payouts will be deposited)
- Your average monthly turnover
- Your average single transaction value
- Proof of address for the settings, such as:
- A Government letter
- A utility bill in the setting’s or business name
- A bank statement for the account you’ll be linking Tapestry Pay to
- IDs for all Ultimate Beneficial Owners (UBOs). This is anyone with 25% or more ownership of the business. A valid passport or driving licence is sufficient.
Please note: you won’t be able to take payments until your application has been reviewed and approved by the Unipaas team.
Our Tapestry Pay setup tutorial guides you through each step of the process.
How long does the setup process take?
The registration process typically takes 5–10 minutes if you have all required information prepared.
You can leave the setup at any time and return later, your progress will be saved so you can continue where you left off.
How long will it take for my account to be reviewed?
Once submitted, your application is manually reviewed by the Unipaas team.
Most applications are approved within a few hours. In some cases, reviews may take up to three business days, for example if submitted over a weekend or when additional checks are required.
Are there fees for transactions processed via Tapestry Pay?
Yes, a small fee applies to each transaction processed through Tapestry Pay. You can check the current transaction fees here.
The fee is automatically deducted, so no manual action is required.
You’ll be able to view the exact fee charged for every transaction in your payment panel.
What is the settlement schedule and when will funds be paid out?
Payout times depend on the payment method:
- Card payments: Funds are settled 72 hours after the transaction time
- Tax-Free Childcare (TFC): Funds are usually received within 24 hours once cleared
Once the settlement period has passed, funds will be included in your next scheduled payout. Your payout schedule can be adjusted at any time through the Tapestry Pay vendor portal.
Tapestry Pay processes payouts regardless of weekends and bank holidays, though in some cases your bank may not reflect the funds until the next working day.
There is no reserve or holding period applied to payouts.
How can I locate and reconcile Tapestry Pay payments in my bank?
Payments are easy to identify on your bank statement.
- Provider bank statements will show payments as: *UFS [Tapestry Pay].
- Each payout includes a Payout ID, which can be used for reconciliation alongside the payout export accessed from Tapestry Pay > Payouts > Export.
- On the payer’s bank statement, payments appear as: *UFS [Childcare Provider Name].
How do I update or change my linked bank account?
You will need to contact TapestryPay@unipaas.com to amend the details of your linked bank account.
How can I monitor when and how parents are paying?
Your Tapestry Pay payment portal provides a full overview of all transactions, including:
- Payment method used
- Transaction amounts
- Fees retained per payment
- Downloadable reconciliation reports
You can access this via:
Management System → Finance → Tapestry Pay
How can I enable Tax-Free Childcare (TFC) collection?
To enable TFC payments, you must:
- Be registered as an approved childcare provider with a UK regulatory authority (e.g. Ofsted)
- Have a valid URN issued by HMRC
You can enable TFC either:
- During your initial Tapestry Pay setup, or
- Later from your Tapestry Pay dashboard.
Who is responsible for the Tax-Free Childcare transaction?
HMRC is responsible for processing all Tax-Free Childcare (TFC) payments.
Tapestry Pay’s role is to securely send parents’ payment instructions to HMRC and provide an easy online payment experience alongside other payment options.
The first time a parent selects TFC, they will be guided to log into their Government account to approve the transfer directly to the childcare provider.
FAQs for Parents and Carers
What payments options are available with Tapestry Pay?
You can pay your childcare fees using:
- Apple Pay and Google Pay
- Credit or debit card
- Bank transfer
- Tax-Free Childcare (TFC) — if enabled by your child’s setting
Available payment methods will be shown when you make a payment.
Is Tapestry Pay secure and reliable?
Yes. Tapestry Pay is backed by an authorised payment institution regulated by the UK Financial Conduct Authority (FCA).
Payments are processed by Unipaas Financial Services Limited (“Unipaas”), an Authorised Payment Institution (Licence No. 929994).
Tapestry Pay is also PCI DSS Level 1 certified, the highest industry standard for card payment security. This ensures that all customer payment data is handled and protected to the strictest security requirements.
How can I link my Tax-Free Childcare account?
When you choose Tax-Free Childcare as your payment method for the first time:
- Select Tax-Free Childcare during checkout.
- You’ll be redirected to the Government Tax-Free Childcare service.
- Log in using your Government Gateway details.
- Confirm the payment to your childcare provider.
Once approved, the payment will be processed through your Tax-Free Childcare account.
Do I need to top up my Tax-Free Childcare account before paying?
Yes. You must have enough funds available in your Tax-Free Childcare account before making a payment.
If your balance is too low, you’ll need to transfer money into your TFC account from your bank first. Once the funds have cleared, you can complete your payment through Tapestry Pay.
How can I check if my child's setting accepts Tax-Free Childcare?
Before making a Tax-Free Childcare payment, your child’s setting must be registered and approved to receive TFC funds.
You can check this by:
- Searching for your provider on the Ofsted website using their name or Unique Reference Number (URN):
https://reports.ofsted.gov.uk/childcare - Asking your childcare provider directly to confirm they accept Tax-Free Childcare payments.
Some local councils also publish guidance and lists of registered childcare providers.
My Tax-Free Childcare payment failed – why?
Tax-Free Childcare payments can fail for several reasons. The most common are:
- The childcare setting is not yet fully registered to receive TFC payments
- There are insufficient funds in your TFC account
- The payment was not approved in your Government account
What you can do:
- Confirm with your childcare setting that they are registered for Tax-Free Childcare.
- Check the provider’s registration on the Ofsted website using their name, postcode, or URN.
- Make sure your TFC account has enough available funds.
If the issue continues, you can contact HMRC directly from their Childcare Service helpline page.
Tapestry and Unipaas will not be able to look into your TFC account directly, but if you suspect it is an issue related to our software, please contact us and include:
- The childcare setting’s full name
- Their URN
- A brief description of the issue