EYFS Nursery Report Comments: PSED (Personal, Social, Emotional)

Personal, Social and Emotional Development covers understanding and managing feelings, waiting and following instructions, confidence to try new things, independence with dressing, toileting and hygiene, and playing cooperatively, taking turns and forming friendships.

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 personal, social and emotional development 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

Student name Pronouns

Fills in the name and pronouns on this page. Nothing is sent anywhere.

Expected: secure and confident S

Strengths

[Name] shares the toys at choosing time with friends and takes turns in small-group games without being asked.
[Name] explains why we have class rules, such as walking indoors, and gently helps friends to remember them.

Next step

To build on this, [Name] could have a go at fastening buttons on the dressing-up clothes and then show a friend the trick.

Expected E

Strengths

At snack time, [Name] sits with friends, pours [his/her/their] own drink and chats about the food.
[Name] is willing to try new activities, such as cooking or an unfamiliar game outdoors, and enjoys the challenge.

Next step

A useful next step is for [Name] to take turns in small-group games, such as picture lotto, with less help from an adult.

Emerging: developing well D

Strengths

Sharing toys is becoming easier for [Name], and with an adult's help [he/she/they] can hand a toy to a friend when asked.
With growing confidence, [Name] is trying new activities, such as painting at the easel or joining a game outdoors.

Next step

[Name] could practise putting on [his/her/their] coat using the flip-over method, with an adult guiding the first steps.

Emerging: beginning B

Strengths

With an adult beside [him/her/them], [Name] is beginning to share toys and take short turns with one friend.
[Name] enjoys exploring new activities when a familiar adult joins in and is starting to have a go on [his/her/their] own.

Next step

Next, [Name] could practise pushing [his/her/their] arms into coat sleeves, with an adult holding the coat ready.

Support at home

Practising coats, shoes and zips at home, with plenty of time and praise, will help your child feel ready to get dressed alone.

How to write personal, social and emotional development comments for Nursery (FS1)

In the autumn, describe separation and settling: how the child says goodbye at the door, who they turn to and how quickly they become involved. Name the key person so parents see the bond forming.
Name the self-care step the child manages, such as pushing arms into coat sleeves or washing hands before snack time, and the next one to try. Parents can practise the same step at home.
Describe turn-taking together with the support used, such as a sand timer or an adult saying 'my turn, your turn'. Sharing grows with help at this age, and parents can copy the same words.

Watch out: Avoid describing a child as shy, clingy or naughty. Describe the behaviour and its context, such as taking a few minutes to join in after drop-off, and the strategy helping, without naming other children.

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 Personal, Social and Emotional Development covers

In these comments, personal, social and emotional development covers these behaviours:

Self-Regulation: understands own feelings, waits, follows instructions
Managing Self: is confident, persists, follows rules, manages hygiene and personal needs
Building Relationships: plays cooperatively, takes turns, forms friendships

More EYFS comments

How these sentences were made, and what has been checked: About these comments.