Writing About Behaviour in School Reports — A Teacher's Guide

Behaviour is one of the trickiest areas to write about in school reports. You need to be honest enough that parents understand any concerns, diplomatic enough that the report doesn't read as a complaint, and professional enough that it could be read by anyone — including the child in years to come.

General Principles

• Describe behaviours, not the child: “Jack sometimes finds it difficult to wait for his turn” is better than “Jack is impatient.”
• Focus on development, not punishment: Reports should reflect what you're doing to support the child, not catalogue incidents.
• Link to PSHE: Behaviour comments are an opportunity to report on personal, social, health and emotional development — a legitimate curriculum area.
• Acknowledge progress: If a child's behaviour has improved, say so explicitly. This rewards effort and shows parents that change is being recognised.

Positive Behaviour Comments

“Sophie is a kind and considerate member of our class. She treats others with respect, follows our school values consistently, and is often the first to offer help to a classmate who is struggling. She is a wonderful role model for her peers.”

“Daniel demonstrates excellent self-regulation. He manages his emotions calmly, even when things don't go his way, and he resolves disagreements with his friends through sensible conversation. His mature approach to relationships makes him a valued member of our classroom community.”

Comments for Challenging Behaviour

Calling out / interrupting

“Thomas is an enthusiastic learner who is keen to share his ideas. He is developing his ability to wait for his turn to speak and to listen when others are talking. We have introduced a visual reminder system which is helping, and he is beginning to put his hand up more consistently.”

Difficulty with friendships

“Mia is learning to navigate the complexities of friendships. She sometimes finds it challenging to compromise during group activities, and we have been working with her on strategies for resolving disagreements calmly. She has shown real maturity in recent weeks and is building more positive relationships with her peers.”

Physical behaviour

“We have been supporting Alfie with managing his physical responses when he feels frustrated. He is making progress with the self-regulation strategies we have introduced, including using a calm corner and talking about his feelings with a trusted adult. We will continue to work closely with Alfie and his family to build on this progress.”

Low-level disruption

“Grace is a sociable child who enjoys chatting with her friends. She is learning to recognise when it is time to focus on her work and when it is appropriate to socialise. Sitting in a quieter area of the classroom has helped her concentration, and she is producing more consistent work as a result.”

Behaviour that has improved

“I am delighted with the progress Ryan has made with his behaviour this term. He has worked hard to follow our classroom expectations, and his improved focus and self-control have had a noticeable impact on his learning. He should be very proud of the effort he has put in, and we will continue to celebrate his achievements.”

Tips for Getting the Tone Right

• Read it as a parent: Before finalising, read the comment imagining you're the parent receiving it. Would you feel attacked, or would you feel informed and supported?
• Read it as the child: Children increasingly read their own reports. Would this comment shame them, or would it feel fair?
• Be solutions-focused: Always include what you're doing to help and what progress has been made. A list of problems without solutions feels like a dead end.
• Keep it proportionate: If a child has had a difficult term behaviourally but is otherwise doing well, don't let the behaviour comment dominate the entire report.

Writing behaviour comments well takes practice and care. Reportify can help you find the right words — its UK-trained AI generates constructive, professional language that strikes the right tone. Try it free at reportify.uk.