EYFS Nursery Report Comments: Physical Development
Physical Development covers gross motor skills such as running, balancing, climbing, hopping and ball skills, and fine motor skills such as holding a pencil, using scissors, paintbrushes and cutlery, and drawing with growing care.
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 physical 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
- [Name] rolls and pushes a ball to a friend, aiming carefully, and stops it neatly with both hands as it comes back.
- [Name] throws a beanbag or ball accurately at a target and catches a large ball with two hands in a range of games.
Next step
- Next, [Name] could try cutting out simple shapes from card and using them to make pictures in the creative area.
Expected E
Strengths
- In outdoor play, [Name] rolls a ball to a friend and is able to stop it with both hands when it rolls back.
- [Name] can throw a beanbag towards a target and generally catches a large ball when it is thrown gently.
Next step
- Mark making outdoors with big brushes and water will help [Name] make larger, more controlled movements with [his/her/their] arms.
Emerging: developing well D
Strengths
- Early mark making is an activity [Name] enjoys, and [his/her/their] marks with crayons and chalk are becoming more controlled.
- In ball games, [Name] kicks a large ball forwards and is starting to aim it towards a target more often.
Next step
- With [his/her/their] key person, [Name] could practise pouring water between jugs and cups in the water tray.
Emerging: beginning B
Strengths
- Sitting with a friend and [his/her/their] key person, [Name] is starting to roll a large ball back and forth.
- [Name] enjoys playing with large balls and, one-to-one, is starting to throw a ball forwards towards an adult.
Next step
- Short turns on a trike or balance bike with [his/her/their] key person nearby will help [Name] learn to steer and stop.
Support at home
- Inviting your child to help with cooking, such as stirring, pouring and spreading, builds the hand control needed for cutlery and pencils.
How to write physical development comments for Nursery (FS1)
- Name the equipment or space where you saw the skill: the climbing frame, balance bikes, the parachute or digging in the outdoor area. Parents can then offer similar movement at the park.
- For fine motor skills, mention hand-strengthening play such as squeezing playdough, threading beads or using tweezers. These make practical next steps while a pencil grip is still forming.
- Include everyday movements such as pouring a drink at snack time or using a fork. They show coordination that parents see daily and can support at mealtimes.
Watch out: Avoid comments on a child's size or on how sporty they seem. Describe what their body can do, such as balancing along a beam, and suggest a free active game for home.
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 Physical Development covers
In these comments, physical development covers these behaviours:
- Gross Motor Skills: moves safely with control, balance and coordination
- Fine Motor Skills: holds a pencil effectively, uses scissors, tools and cutlery
More EYFS comments
- Communication and Language, Nursery (FS1)
- Personal, Social and Emotional Development, Nursery (FS1)
- Physical Development, Reception (FS2)
- Literacy, Nursery (FS1)
- 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.