Primary School Report Comments (KS1 and KS2), Years 1-6
Schools in England must send parents a written report at least once a year covering general progress, with brief particulars of achievements that highlight strengths and developmental needs (GOV.UK guide for headteachers). In many primary schools the class teacher covers this in a general comment. Learning behaviours such as attitude, independence and resilience belong here rather than in subject attainment. There is no national scale, so each school chooses its own words; these examples use Consistently, Usually, Sometimes and Not yet.
Each page below covers one skill for one grade band, with sample strengths and next steps at every level and tips for writing your own. These comments are written for the general comment or learning behaviours section of a primary school report in England.
Comments by skill and grade band
| Skill | KS1 (Years 1-2) | KS2 (Years 3-6) |
|---|---|---|
| Attitude and Engagement | Attitude and Engagement, KS1 (Years 1-2) | Attitude and Engagement, KS2 (Years 3-6) |
| Independence | Independence, KS1 (Years 1-2) | Independence, KS2 (Years 3-6) |
| Resilience | Resilience, KS1 (Years 1-2) | Resilience, KS2 (Years 3-6) |
| Collaboration | Collaboration, KS1 (Years 1-2) | Collaboration, KS2 (Years 3-6) |
| Organisation and Presentation | Organisation and Presentation, KS1 (Years 1-2) | Organisation and Presentation, KS2 (Years 3-6) |
| Conduct and Respect | Conduct and Respect, KS1 (Years 1-2) | Conduct and Respect, KS2 (Years 3-6) |
Also: opening and closing sentences for each report period.
The 4 comment levels
| Code | Level |
|---|---|
| C | Consistently |
| U | Usually |
| S | Sometimes |
| N | Not yet |
Let the frequency word set the tone. Consistently suits language such as reliably, independently and without being asked, while Not yet describes what is emerging and the support that helps, such as an adult nearby or a visual prompt. Rather than restating the rating, show it through one behaviour you have seen and how often it happens.
Tips for report comments
- Write about behaviour, not personality. 'Settles to work quickly after carpet time' tells parents and carers far more than 'is a lovely, focused child', and it avoids anything that sounds like a label or a diagnosis.
- Keep learning behaviours separate from attainment. Leave out phrases such as working towards or greater depth, test results and screening checks; the subject sections cover those, while this comment explains how the child goes about learning.
- Finish each learning behaviour with one next step the child can practise and, where it helps, one free routine for home, such as signing the reading record together or packing the PE kit the night before.
This site shows 170 of the 1,234 sentences in the pack. Not affiliated with or endorsed by the Department for Education, Ofsted, any local authority or any multi-academy trust. Year groups and key stages are named for identification only.
How these sentences were made, and what has been checked: About these comments.