EYFS Reception 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 Reception (FS2): 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
Fills in the name and pronouns on this page. Nothing is sent anywhere.
Expected: secure and confident S
Strengths
- In maths and phonics sessions, [Name] works cooperatively with a partner, sharing equipment fairly and encouraging [his/her/their] friend.
- [Name] has formed warm, lasting friendships and welcomes children who ask to join the game.
Next step
- Keeping a simple chart of personal goals, such as fastening every button after PE, would give [Name] a new challenge.
Expected E
Strengths
- In paired maths and phonics activities, [Name] takes turns with resources and listens to [his/her/their] partner's ideas.
- In board games and outdoor games, [Name] takes turns and usually accepts with good grace when it is not [his/her/their] go.
Next step
- Talking about how characters feel in our class stories will help [Name] describe [his/her/their] own feelings in more detail.
Emerging: developing well D
Strengths
- After a busy playtime, [Name] is learning to use our calm corner to settle and get ready for the next session.
- Taking turns is becoming easier for [Name], who now waits for a go in simple games with an adult nearby to help.
Next step
- [Name] could practise simple phrases for joining a game, such as asking to play, to make new friends in the playground.
Emerging: beginning B
Strengths
- [Name] joins in with playground games when an adult is nearby and is beginning to get to know one or two classmates.
- [Name] plays happily alongside other children and is beginning to watch and copy their games.
Next step
- A next step is for [Name] to take off shoes and jumper for PE with an adult showing each step.
Support at home
- You could invite your child to help choose and prepare a healthy snack, talking about foods that help us grow.
How to write personal, social and emotional development comments for Reception (FS2)
- Refer to Reception routines that show independence: getting changed for PE, lunch in the hall or looking after a book bag. Say which ones the child manages alone and which still need an adult.
- Describe how the child handles big feelings with a named strategy, such as the calm corner or a feelings chart, and how quickly they settle. This gives families shared words for difficult moments at home.
- Look at friendships and fairness: does the child invite others into games, explain the rules or notice when a friend is upset? One brief example of kindness tells parents more than a general remark.
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
- Communication and Language, Reception (FS2)
- Personal, Social and Emotional Development, Nursery (FS1)
- Physical Development, Reception (FS2)
- Literacy, Reception (FS2)
- Mathematics, Reception (FS2)
- Understanding the World, Reception (FS2)
- Expressive Arts and Design, Reception (FS2)
- Characteristics of Effective Learning, Reception (FS2)
- 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.