In 1965 the King's Fund Hospital Centre undertook a survey of ward progress reports for student nurses. An interim report in 1966 was followed by a final report two years later. A working party was set up to study the results of the survey and to explore the possibilities of designing a standard report form for student assessment. Contact with many schools of nursing throughout the country revealed a need for clearer guidance on recording the progress of nurses in training. A trial guidance document has been widely circulated and this published version has been redesigned to meet recommendations made by the schools of nursing in which it has been used.