How to Write Positive Report Comments for Struggling Students

Writing report comments for children who are struggling is one of the hardest parts of the job. You want to be honest — parents deserve to know where their child stands — but you also want to be encouraging, to acknowledge effort, and to avoid language that makes a child sound hopeless.

Here are practical strategies and example phrases to help you strike that balance.

The Core Principle: Strength-Based Framing

Every child has strengths. The task is to lead with what a child can do before addressing what they're working on. This isn't about being dishonest — it's about giving a complete picture rather than a deficit-focused one.

Instead of: “Oliver struggles with reading and is significantly behind his peers.”

Try: “Oliver approaches reading with growing confidence. He can identify initial sounds in words and is developing his blending skills with adult support. He particularly enjoys sharing non-fiction books about vehicles, and this enthusiasm is helping to build his motivation to read independently.”

Language Swaps That Work

Small changes in wording make a significant difference in tone:

• “Struggles with” → “is developing” / “is building confidence in”
• “Can't do” → “is working towards” / “is beginning to”
• “Behind” → “making progress at their own pace”
• “Weak at” → “an area for further development”
• “Fails to” → “is learning to” / “sometimes finds it challenging to”
• “Poor behaviour” → “is developing strategies to manage”

Example Comments for Different Scenarios

Academic difficulty with good effort

“Amara works with real determination in maths and always gives her best effort. She is making steady progress with addition within 10 and is developing her understanding of place value with practical support. Her positive attitude to learning is a credit to her, and she should be very proud of the progress she has made this year.”

Child with SEND

“With the support of his individual learning plan, Joshua has made meaningful progress this term. He can now write his name independently and is beginning to form other letters with increasing accuracy. He works best in a quiet environment with visual supports, and the strategies we have put in place are having a positive impact on his confidence and engagement.”

Child who finds concentration difficult

“Isabella is a bright and curious learner who generates excellent ideas. She is developing her ability to sustain concentration during independent tasks, and she responds well to the visual timers and task checklists we have introduced. When she is focused, the quality of her work is impressive, and we are working together to help her achieve this focus more consistently.”

Child who is disengaged

“We have noticed that Ethan is most engaged when learning involves practical, hands-on activities — he showed particular enthusiasm during our science investigations and design technology projects. We are working on transferring this engagement to his written work, and offering more choice in how he records his learning is beginning to make a difference.”

Structuring Comments for Struggling Learners

A reliable structure is:

1. Strength or positive quality — what the child does well or enjoys
2. Current position — where they are in their learning (honest but constructive)
3. Support and progress — what has been put in place and the difference it's making
4. Next step — a clear, achievable target

What to Avoid

• Comparing to peers: “Below the class average” is demoralising and unhelpful. Compare the child to themselves — their starting point and their progress.
• Labelling: Avoid “low ability,” “slow learner” or “weak.” These are labels, not descriptions of learning.
• False positivity: Don't say everything is wonderful if it isn't. Parents will see through it, and it does the child a disservice. Honest encouragement is more valuable than hollow praise.

Writing thoughtful comments for struggling learners takes time, but it matters enormously. If the phrasing is what slows you down, Reportify can help — it generates constructive, growth-mindset language tailored to each child's circumstances. Try 5 reports free.