Reception Physical Development report comments
Physical Development covers gross motor skills, such as running, balancing and climbing, and fine motor skills, such as holding a pencil and using scissors. These Reception comments cover both.
15 example comments across 3 levels, plus 6 next steps. Type a name below to fill in every comment.
Strong progress, securely at the expected level
[Pupil] moves with real confidence and control. They run, hop, skip and climb safely and are skilled at throwing and catching a ball.
[Pupil] has excellent fine motor control. They hold a pencil with an effective grip, form letters carefully and use scissors accurately.
[Pupil] loves being active and shows great coordination in PE and outdoor play. They negotiate space well and are aware of others around them.
[Pupil] is confident with tools and equipment. They use cutlery well, build intricate models and take care with their handwriting.
[Pupil] has strong balance and agility. They enjoy a physical challenge and show good control when moving in different ways.
At the expected level of development
[Pupil] enjoys PE and outdoor play and moves safely and confidently. They are developing their pencil grip, and activities such as threading and playdough at home will help strengthen their fingers.
[Pupil] runs, jumps and climbs with growing confidence. Using scissors to cut along a line is a skill they are working on.
[Pupil] has made good progress in their physical development. They form most letters correctly and are learning to make them a consistent size.
[Pupil] enjoys ball games and is developing their throwing and catching. They use cutlery well at lunchtime.
[Pupil] is confident in the outdoor area and moves in a variety of ways. Practising a comfortable tripod pencil grip will help their writing.
Emerging: still working towards the expected level
[Pupil] is developing their gross and fine motor skills. They enjoy being active and are growing in confidence on the climbing equipment. Activities such as playdough, pegs and drawing will help build strength in their hands.
[Pupil] is learning to hold a pencil comfortably and to control their marks. They have made progress this year with regular practice.
[Pupil] is building balance and coordination. They enjoy movement games and are becoming more confident with running and stopping safely.
[Pupil] is developing their scissor skills and their independence with dressing for PE. Encouraging them to do zips and buttons at home will help.
[Pupil] is making progress with their physical skills with support. They particularly enjoy dancing and moving to music.
Reception physical development next steps
Finish a comment with one specific, achievable target. Parents find these the most useful line in a report.
- Hold a pencil with a comfortable tripod grip.
- Form letters correctly, starting in the right place.
- Cut along a line accurately with scissors.
- Throw and catch a ball with a partner.
- Balance and move with control in different ways.
- Get changed for PE independently.
How to use these comments
Replace [Pupil] with the child's first name and adjust any detail that does not fit your class or school style. These comments are designed to be a solid starting point, not a finished product. The best report comments are the ones where you have added something specific about that child: a particular achievement, a moment you remember, a challenge they have worked through.
If you want to generate comments that are already specific to your pupils, Staffroom does exactly that. Add your notes about each child, choose a tone, and the comments it generates will be genuinely personal rather than adapted from a template.