Year 1 Reading report comments
Reading is the most important thing in Year 1, and report comments need to reflect both decoding skills and a growing love of books. These examples aim to do both.
7 example comments across 3 levels, plus 6 next steps. Type a name below to fill in every comment.
Working at greater depth / exceeding expectations
[Pupil] is a confident and enthusiastic reader who is making wonderful progress. They decode new words with skill, read with lovely expression and show real understanding of what they have read.
[Pupil] has taken to reading this year with a real passion. They choose books independently, talk about stories with enthusiasm and are developing a genuine love of reading that will stay with them throughout school.
Working at the expected standard
[Pupil] is making good progress in reading and their phonics knowledge is secure. They read with growing confidence and are beginning to tackle longer books with real enjoyment.
[Pupil] has had a positive year in reading and is working well at the expected level. They are developing good strategies for reading new words and their comprehension of what they read is building steadily.
[Pupil] is a steady reader who has made good progress this year. Reading regularly at home has made a real difference and we encourage [Pupil] to keep up this great habit.
Working towards the expected standard
[Pupil] is making progress in reading with the support they receive. Daily reading practice at home is the most important thing at this stage, and every few pages makes a real difference to building confidence and fluency.
[Pupil] approaches reading with a positive attitude and is making steady progress. There are good foundations in their phonics knowledge and with continued practice and encouragement, their fluency will continue to grow.
Year 1 reading next steps
Finish a comment with one specific, achievable target. Parents find these the most useful line in a report.
- Blend sounds quickly to read new words.
- Read common exception words automatically.
- Read aloud with growing fluency.
- Retell a story in order.
- Answer questions about what has been read.
- Read every day at home and talk about the book.
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.