How to prepare a professional report

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From page 179 of the level 3 CYPW handbook on amazon.co.uk

How to prepare a report

Types of report
Accident reports
Incident reports
Assessment reports
Report about a project such as a plan to develop the outdoors
CAF or other official review

1. A factual report
- to inform - such as an accident or incident report. This is a straightforward statement of the facts, giving an accurate record.

2. An instructional report
- to explain: for example, when a change is introduced, such as a change to the curriculum, or a revised system of reporting about food quality, this be written as an instructional report (step by step) telling people about the new procedures.

3. A leading report
- persuade people to listen to your ideas, such as developing your outdoor area. The leader wants to encourage people to support his/her idea. The writer of the report will lead people towards making a decision that he or she wants. This report needs a lot of evidence to be successful, such as examples of other outdoor areas and proof of positive outcomes from tried and tested outdoor developments.

Features of a report

Title page: a simple title page with the writer's name, title, date and an indication of whether it is confidential

Content list:the contents of short reports can be shown on the title page. Longer reports should have a separate page listing the major sections, sub sections if any and appendices.

Introduction: this gives the aim and background to the report

Main part of the report: details facts and findings

Conclusions: summarising the main points of the report

Recommendations: make any recommendations relating them clearly to what has gone before

Appendices: some reports need detailed supporting information or perhaps information that only some readers need. All this goes in the appendices.

In some cases a report may also contain

References: this lists books and articles consulted as a basis for the report, or those you want to suggest as further reading - or both.

Glossary of terms: this can be a help if your readers include non-experts as well as experts as it explains terms such as EYFS (Early Years Foundation Stage)