Pupil iPad Set-Up Guide
Empowered Learning (iOS 26)
Tap an option above — a few steps are different depending on where you’re setting up.
💡 Before You Start
⚡ Getting Started
Turn On Your iPad
Take the iPad out of the box and press the power button (top edge) to turn it on.
If the iPad goes to sleep at any point you’ll see the “hello” screen — just swipe up from the bottom of the screen to resume.
Choose a Language
Select English from the language list.
Select a Country
Select United Kingdom from the country or region menu — it should be at the top of the list.
Appearance
Choose how you’d like text and icons to look — move the slider to Medium, Large, or leave it on Default. Tap Continue once selected.
Quick Start
Choose the option to Set Up Without Another Device.
📶 Connect to Wi-Fi
Choose a Wi-Fi Network
School
Select the LT_OPEN network from the Wi-Fi menu or select your home Wi-Fi network if setting up at home.
Home
Select your home Wi-Fi network from the list, then enter your home Wi-Fi password when prompted. Tap Join to connect.
Username and Password School
Enter your school log-in username (just the number, not the full e-mail address) and your school password — the same ones you use for Teams. Tap Join to connect.
Certificate School
Tap Trust to accept and install the certificate.
🔑 School Sign-In & Device Management
Remote Management Screen
You’ll see this iPad is owned by City of Edinburgh Council. Tap Enrol this iPad.
Edinburgh Log-In Screen
Tap Next only once.
Microsoft Sign-In
Enter your school email address — your Office 365 email, the same one you use to log into Teams.
Tap Next.
Password
You’ll be taken to the City of Edinburgh sign-on page. Enter your password — this is the same password you use for Teams. Tap Sign In.
Stay Signed In?
Choose Yes to stay signed in.
Configuring iPad
This screen will take a few minutes to move on — please be patient.
👆 Touch ID — Optional
Touch ID Optional
Tap Continue to begin configuring Touch ID, or skip this step by tapping Set Up Touch ID Later.
Setting Up Touch ID Optional
Lift and place your index finger on the top right button repeatedly, as shown on screen.
Add Another Fingerprint Optional
Add a fingerprint from your other hand by choosing Continue and repeating the previous steps, or skip by choosing Set Up Later in Settings.
Having Trouble?
If you experience an issue recording your Touch ID, choose Continue with Partial Setup — do not choose “Erase and Start Again”.
🍏 Passcode & Apple ID
Create an iPad Passcode
Enter a passcode for your iPad — your teacher may tell you what to enter, or ask you to make it the same as your Teams password.
Choose Passcode Options then Custom Alphanumeric Code to use a mix of letters and numbers.
Re-Enter Your Passcode
Type the same passcode again to confirm it.
Apple ID
Enter the Managed Apple ID which has been emailed to you from Apple School Manager.
Note: your Managed Apple ID is your username (number) followed by @appleid.ea.edin.sch.uk
Tap Continue.
Enter Your Apple ID Password
Enter the temporary password for your Apple ID.
You will then be asked to set a new password for your Apple ID. It must be different to the temporary password, and different to passwords you have used for your Apple ID previously.
Terms and Conditions
Choose Agree. You’ll then see the signing-in screen for a few minutes.
🎛️ Set Your Preferences
Location Services
Tap Turn On Location Services.
Light or Dark Display
Choose the Light, Dark or Auto option, then tap Continue.
Multitasking & Windowing
Choose Full-Screen Apps and then select Continue.
🏁 Finishing Touches
Check for the Lightspeed App
Swipe to the second screen on your iPad. After a couple of minutes, the Lightspeed (Relay Smart Agent) icon will complete installation, followed by the Self Service app. The “Edit Home Screen” pop-up may not appear — that’s normal.
Open Wi-Fi Settings School
Swipe to the right of the screen to view the App Library, then open Settings.
Switch from LT_OPEN to LT_EL School
Select Wi-Fi from the left-hand menu, then tap LT_EL from the Networks list.
Confirm Wi-Fi Connection School
After a few minutes your iPad will automatically join the LT_EL Wi-Fi. A blue tick confirms you’re connected.
Forget the LT_OPEN Network School
Tap the blue (i) icon next to LT_OPEN, tap Forget this Network, then confirm with Forget.
Joining School Wi-Fi Home
Your iPad is now fully set up on your home Wi-Fi — nothing more to do at home. The first time you bring it into school, open Settings > Wi-Fi and select LT_EL, then enter your school username and password to join. You only need to do this once.
✔️ Quick Checklist
Congratulations!
You have now set up a brand new iPad. Your teacher will tell you which apps you need to install from the Self Service app — remember to tap Allow when it asks about notifications.
📧 Need Help?
If you get stuck at any point during set-up, ask your class teacher or contact the Digital Education Team.
Getting to Know Your iPad
iPad (11th generation) — iPadOS 26
🆕 What’s New in iPadOS 26
🪟 Windowed Multitasking
Apps can now be resized and stacked like on a laptop, instead of only running full screen — useful for research alongside notes.
🗂️ Improved Files App
Collapsible folders, colour-coded tags and file details make it much easier for pupils to keep schoolwork organised.
📓 Notes & Journal
Notes gains Markdown export and a calligraphy pen; a new Journal app lets pupils log experiences with photos and sketches.
🎙️ Local Capture
Record audio straight into the Files app — handy for capturing a lesson, an interview, or notes for a project without needing a separate app.
♿ Accessibility — Supporting Every Learner
iPadOS 26 includes free, built-in accessibility tools. Several were expanded this year with on-device Apple Intelligence — nothing is sent to a server.
👁️ Vision New
Accessibility Reader turns busy documents and web pages into a clean, single-column view that can summarise or read aloud — helpful for dyslexia or low vision. VoiceOver now gives richer spoken descriptions of photos and documents. Larger Text and Zoom remain available too.
👂 Hearing New
Videos with no existing captions can now get automatic on-device subtitles. Made for iPhone/iPad hearing aids connect more reliably, and Sound Recognition can alert a pupil to a doorbell, alarm or their name being called.
✋ Motor & Touch New
Voice Control can now be told what to tap in plain language (e.g. “tap the blue button”) instead of an exact label. Touch Accommodations and Switch Control help pupils who find precise tapping difficult.
🧠 Focus & Attention
Guided Access locks the iPad to a single app — useful during an assessment or for a pupil who’s easily distracted by notifications. Reduce Motion and Increase Contrast can also help with sensory sensitivity.
🔮 Coming Soon — iPadOS 27 Preview Not Installed Yet
Apple’s next major update is expected this autumn (current reporting points to mid-September, though Apple hasn’t confirmed an exact date). None of this is on your iPad yet — it’s just a preview of what’s ahead.
🗣️ Siri, Reimagined
A more conversational Siri, powered by Apple Intelligence, that can understand natural requests and carry out multi-step tasks.
🔎 Visual Intelligence
Circle or tap anything on screen with Apple Pencil to identify it, translate it, or look it up — useful for research and homework.
🧊 Refined Liquid Glass
A clearer, easier-to-read version of last year’s redesign, with sharper icons and adjustable transparency.
🚀 Faster Everyday Use
Quicker app launches and noticeably faster file transfers.
📜 Acceptable Use Expectations
Every pupil iPad is issued under the Empowered Learning programme’s Responsible Use Agreement. A quick reminder of what that means day to day:
✅ Do
- Use the iPad when a teacher or adult gives permission
- Handle it with care and keep your passcode private
- Ask permission before installing or accessing new apps and websites
- Think True, Helpful, Inspiring, Necessary, Kind before you post
- Tell an adult about inappropriate messages or content
- Log out properly when finished on a shared device
🚫 Don’t
- Share your username or password with anyone
- Remove school-installed apps or profiles
- Take or share photos/videos of others without their permission
- Open files or links from people or sources you don’t know
- Access apps or websites without permission
📥 Full Agreements
Responsible Use Agreement (online) Responsible Use Agreement (print)Home School Agreement (print) Home School Agreement (online)
Some accessibility settings may need enabling by a parent/carer or teacher rather than the pupil. For the full, up-to-date list of Apple’s accessibility features, see apple.com/accessibility. iPadOS 27 feature names, dates and availability are Apple’s own previews and may change before release. Acceptable use summary above is a plain-language digest — the signed agreements linked here take precedence.
