KS1 Spoken Language Report Comments (Years 1-2)

Spoken language is how the child listens and responds, asks questions, explains and justifies ideas, and speaks audibly in discussions, presentations, performances and role play, adapting how they speak for the listener.

Below are 9 sample sentences for KS1 (Years 1-2): one strength and one next step for each of the 4 comment levels (Extending / Confident / Developing / Beginning), plus a tip for families. They are a small selection from the 119 spoken language sentences in the full pack. Copy one, then add a detail only you know about the student.

Jump to: Extending · Confident · Developing · Beginning · Writing tips

Student name Pronouns

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

Extending E

Strengths

[Name] retells familiar stories aloud in the right order, using story language such as 'once upon a time' and 'in the end' and adding lively detail.

Next step

Next, [Name] could try retelling a story from a different character's point of view, changing the voice and words to suit that character.

Confident C

Strengths

[Name] can retell a familiar story aloud in order, including the main events and some of the words from the book.

Next step

In partner talk, the next step is to ask [his/her/their] partner for more detail about an idea, helping to keep the conversation going.

Developing D

Strengths

With a talk partner, [Name] sometimes shares an idea in a full sentence, and is learning to reply to what [his/her/their] partner says.

Next step

Retelling a favourite story with a partner, using pictures as prompts, will help [Name] put the events in order.

Beginning B

Strengths

Using story pictures or props, [Name] is starting to retell parts of a familiar story and remember what happens.

Next step

Talking with an adult about a picture book, and naming what is on each page, will help [Name] build new spoken vocabulary.

Support at home

When you share a story, pause to wonder aloud together about what might happen next and why, so your child practises giving ideas with reasons.

How to write spoken language comments for KS1 (Years 1-2)

Use the familiar KS1 settings: show and tell, talk partners, role play and retelling a story aloud. Say which one, and what the child did, such as answering a classmate's question about an object.
Separate small-group talk from whole-class talk. A child may reply thoughtfully to a talk partner but say little in front of the class, so describe each and suggest one small step.
Make the next step a small speaking habit, such as answering in a full sentence or adding a reason with 'because', rather than 'speak more clearly'. Families can model it at mealtimes.

Watch out: Avoid treating a quiet child as lacking spoken language skills, and do not comment on accent. Describe what the child communicates and in which setting, and suggest one way to rehearse ideas first.

The scale describes how independently the child shows the learning. Extending suits independently, applies it in new contexts and explains reasoning; Confident suits usually and with occasional support; Developing suits sometimes, or with a model or word mat; Beginning names what the child does with adult support. Show the point through one piece of learning rather than writing the scale word itself.

What Spoken Language covers

In these comments, spoken language covers these behaviours:

listens and responds appropriately to adults and peers
asks relevant questions and builds on the ideas of others in discussion
articulates and justifies answers, arguments and opinions in full sentences
speaks audibly and fluently, using new vocabulary, in presentations, performances and debates

More UK primary subjects comments

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