Nursery Report Writing

[HesterHare]

I'm wading through report writing for my nursery class (school nursery, ridiculously long reports) and have come a bit unstuck with one particular child.
The problem is that he doesn't really communicate at school at all in any form other than crying if he is very distressed.
He won't go to play at anything unless an adult tells him what to do, we've tried giving him two choices but unless there is something he really wants he just refuses to choose, his parents have said that at home he's the same.
He knows when he needs the toilet as will sometimes shake his head if we ask if he needs to go but at the same time won't go without us suggesting it first.
I think it's just a confidence thing and he has made progress in that when he started he would only stand directly by me and cry.
I don't like to be negative in reports but what can I write positively over the 7 areas of learning?! I don't think I can even use my go to phrase of 'He is beginning to...' because in most cases it's just not true!

Have you had him observed by Senco?

Words like reserved, cautious, careful any use in your report?

X needs to work on ..... to continue making progress in .....

Guess what I've just spent half term going??

I’m not a teacher but as a parent it would be useful to know some specifics I could try to work on at home- is it possible to write it that way? For example X usually know when he needs to go to the toilet and increasing confidence will enable him to go without being prompted.

When I mentioned it initially she suggested a referral to Speech and Language, she then came and covered my class and said that that suggestion wasn't appropriate after all as his engagement is so low and she thinks it may just be him being stubborn/anxious and that hopefully he'll become more outgoing with time.
They are definitely useful words, will use those for a few other children as well, thank you

Sorry other replies weren't there when I started mine, wonder thanks, every year I say I'm going to get them sorted before half term and I never do!!
Thank you Casmama another useful phrase, I'm very wary of it all sounding similar so that's helpful.

Similar situation @HesterHare! Everyone has a personal and a science comment so far...

A lot of phrases that begin x needs support to.... and "we are working with x on being able to.... x is taking small steps towards. Together with lots of proactive sentences about how you are and will be helping him to settle in. If there's anything that he likes focus on those things. It's hard though isn't it? I have one that shouts "this is boring!!" And hits somebody when asked to do any work..... that report will be tricky too

At least he's got a bit of oomph though Socrates! I've looked back in Development Matters to see what a younger child might be expected to do, it's all "Enjoys..." or "Shows curiosity in..." so that wasn't much help!
Part of the problem is our report format, enough space for 5+ lines of size 14 text for each aspect, not each area but each individual section!
I don't know how I can stretch any of it to fit, for People and Communities I have "He has observed other children role playing familiar situations. He nodded when I asked him about the people in the family photo he brought in." Will have to try and pad with suggestions of what parents could do at home.

Has he been with you all year? Is it only the words to use in the report that you’re worried about? Surely an unengaged child, unable to communicate and frequently crying would have given you cause for concern and action before now. I appreciate your SENCO has seen him but sometimes you need to push further. How have you planned for him all year?
Just write the report - be accurate - and then get some support organised for the poor child.

Have you spoken directly to the parent? I find that you have to word reports really carefully. More and more each year until they are meaningless (unless you are a teacher and know how to do code them). But in person you can be a lot more honest.

I'd ring the parent and then list "areas of development" in the report. That way management will be happy they won't have a narky parent to deal with and parents know the truth.

Yes he's been with us all year, as I said in my OP he has made progress in that he doesn't cry anymore now, unless he's wet himself and doesn't need to stick to me anymore, he will be lead around by friends who mother him because he's small for his age.
I've spoken to the parents quite honestly about what he's like and they've said that he's like that when he's with extended family as well but just with them he's quite chatty, I think it's selective mutism which ime in nursery children isn't that uncommon and we'd usually wait until end of reception before worrying too much. The senco is also the reception teacher so she has a vested interest in getting nursery children support if she thinks they need it and has been great with some of my other children who've needed speech and language support.
My main concern at the minute is mostly the wording, as I said the length of our reports was the main problem as once I'd said what I could say about his development there's still space for another few lines of text and it looked a bit odd. I've managed to write it now though using some of the suggestions on here.