EYFS Nursery Report Comments: Literacy
Literacy covers comprehension, such as retelling stories and joining in with rhymes; word reading, such as saying letter sounds, blending and reading common exception words; and writing, from early mark making to forming letters and simple sentences.
Below are 13 sample sentences for Nursery (FS1): two strengths and one next step for each of the 4 comment levels (Expected: secure and confident / Expected / Emerging: developing well / Emerging: beginning), plus a tip for families. They are a small selection from the 173 literacy sentences in the full pack. Copy one, then add a detail only you know about the student.
Jump to: Expected: secure and confident · Expected · Emerging: developing well · Emerging: beginning · Writing tips
Fills in the name and pronouns on this page. Nothing is sent anywhere.
Expected: secure and confident S
Strengths
- Choosing books independently in the book corner, [Name] talks about the pictures and retells parts of the story to [his/her/their] key person.
- [Name] talks about the characters in our stories with clear understanding, explaining how they feel and why they act as they do.
Next step
- A next step is for [Name] to play I spy sound games, listening for the first sound in names and objects at snack time.
Expected E
Strengths
- Looking at books with [his/her/their] key person, [Name] can talk about what is happening in the pictures and what might come next.
- Listening with interest at story time, [Name] can talk about favourite characters and moments in the book.
Next step
- Mark making with chalk, sticks and paint outdoors will help [Name] make more deliberate shapes that lead towards letters.
Emerging: developing well D
Strengths
- With encouragement from [his/her/their] key person, [Name] looks at books in the book corner and points to things in the pictures.
- Story time is a highlight of the day for [Name], who can name the main characters and, with a little help, talk about a favourite page.
Next step
- Funky fingers activities and mark making with chunky chalk will help [Name] build control for early letter shapes.
Emerging: beginning B
Strengths
- With [his/her/their] key person, [Name] is beginning to choose a book from the book corner and look at the pictures together.
- Sharing a book one-to-one with an adult, [Name] likes naming things in the pictures and is starting to ask about them.
Next step
- Sharing board books with [his/her/their] key person and naming the pictures together will build [Name]'s interest in books.
Support at home
- When you are out and about, try spotting the letters from your child's name on signs, shop fronts and number plates.
How to write literacy comments for Nursery (FS1)
- Focus on enjoyment of books and rhymes: joining in with a repeated line at story time, choosing a favourite book or retelling with props. In Nursery, early reading grows mostly from talk and stories.
- Describe early mark making with its purpose, such as a scribbled shopping list in the role-play area or chalk marks the child explains, so parents value the meaning before letter shapes appear.
- Mention name recognition, such as finding their name card at self-registration, and any initial sounds they spot, like the first sound of their name. These are small steps families can practise.
Watch out: Avoid quoting reading book colours or levels, which invite comparison between children. Describe the reading behaviour instead, such as blending three sounds or rereading to check, and suggest sharing a bedtime story.
At the most secure level, words such as confidently, independently and in a range of situations fit, backed by one example from play. At the earliest level, name what the child can already do and the support that helps, such as modelling or a visual prompt. Let the observation show the level rather than restating it.
What Literacy covers
In these comments, literacy covers these behaviours:
- Comprehension: retells stories, uses new vocabulary, joins in with rhymes and poems
- Word Reading: says sounds for letters, blends sounds, reads common exception words
- Writing: writes recognisable letters, spells words by sounding out, writes simple phrases and sentences
More EYFS comments
- Communication and Language, Nursery (FS1)
- Personal, Social and Emotional Development, Nursery (FS1)
- Physical Development, Nursery (FS1)
- Literacy, Reception (FS2)
- Mathematics, Nursery (FS1)
- Understanding the World, Nursery (FS1)
- Expressive Arts and Design, Nursery (FS1)
- Characteristics of Effective Learning, Nursery (FS1)
- Opening and closing sentences
- All EYFS skills and grade bands
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How these sentences were made, and what has been checked: About these comments.