diff --git a/python/core/layout/qgsabstractreportsection.sip b/python/core/layout/qgsabstractreportsection.sip
index cae2a8fd2f7..e4ddebd6859 100644
--- a/python/core/layout/qgsabstractreportsection.sip
+++ b/python/core/layout/qgsabstractreportsection.sip
@@ -45,6 +45,14 @@ exposed to the Python bindings for unit testing purposes only.
 
 %TypeHeaderCode
 #include "qgsabstractreportsection.h"
+%End
+%ConvertToSubClassCode
+    if ( dynamic_cast< QgsReportSectionFieldGroup * >( sipCpp ) )
+      sipType = sipType_QgsReportSectionFieldGroup;
+    else if ( dynamic_cast< QgsReportSectionLayout * >( sipCpp ) )
+      sipType = sipType_QgsReportSectionLayout;
+    else
+      sipType = NULL;
 %End
   public:
 
@@ -58,6 +66,11 @@ Note that ownership is not transferred to ``parent``.
 
 
 
+    virtual QString type() const = 0;
+%Docstring
+Returns the section subclass type.
+%End
+
     virtual QgsAbstractReportSection *clone() const = 0 /Factory/;
 %Docstring
 Clones the report section. Ownership of the returned section is
@@ -272,6 +285,20 @@ Sets the current ``context`` for this section.
 Returns the current context for this section.
 
 .. seealso:: :py:func:`setContext()`
+%End
+
+    bool writeXml( QDomElement &parentElement, QDomDocument &document, const QgsReadWriteContext &context ) const;
+%Docstring
+Stores the section state in a DOM element.
+
+.. seealso:: :py:func:`readXml()`
+%End
+
+    bool readXml( const QDomElement &sectionElement, const QDomDocument &document, const QgsReadWriteContext &context );
+%Docstring
+Sets the item state from a DOM element.
+
+.. seealso:: :py:func:`writeXml()`
 %End
 
   protected:
@@ -291,9 +318,27 @@ Copies the common properties of a report section to a ``destination`` section.
 This method should be called from clone() implementations.
 %End
 
-    void setParent( QgsAbstractReportSection *parent );
+    virtual void setParentSection( QgsAbstractReportSection *parent );
 %Docstring
 Sets the ``parent`` report section.
+%End
+
+    virtual bool writePropertiesToElement( QDomElement &element, QDomDocument &document, const QgsReadWriteContext &context ) const;
+%Docstring
+Stores section state within an XML DOM element.
+
+.. seealso:: :py:func:`writeXml()`
+
+.. seealso:: :py:func:`readPropertiesFromElement()`
+%End
+
+    virtual bool readPropertiesFromElement( const QDomElement &element, const QDomDocument &document, const QgsReadWriteContext &context );
+%Docstring
+Sets section state from a DOM element.
+
+.. seealso:: :py:func:`writePropertiesToElement()`
+
+.. seealso:: :py:func:`readXml()`
 %End
 
   private:
diff --git a/python/core/layout/qgsreport.sip b/python/core/layout/qgsreport.sip
index de44b514426..a4aeea50f6b 100644
--- a/python/core/layout/qgsreport.sip
+++ b/python/core/layout/qgsreport.sip
@@ -38,6 +38,7 @@ Constructor for QgsReport, associated with the specified
 Note that ownership is not transferred to ``project``.
 %End
 
+    virtual QString type() const;
     virtual QgsProject *layoutProject() const;
     virtual QgsReport *clone() const /Factory/;
 
diff --git a/python/core/layout/qgsreportsectionfieldgroup.sip b/python/core/layout/qgsreportsectionfieldgroup.sip
index 977e65f95fe..972ffa1da45 100644
--- a/python/core/layout/qgsreportsectionfieldgroup.sip
+++ b/python/core/layout/qgsreportsectionfieldgroup.sip
@@ -34,6 +34,8 @@ Constructor for QgsReportSectionFieldGroup, attached to the specified ``parent``
 Note that ownership is not transferred to ``parent``.
 %End
 
+    virtual QString type() const;
+
     QgsLayout *body();
 %Docstring
 Returns the body layout for the section.
@@ -85,6 +87,15 @@ Sets the ``field`` associated with this section.
 
     virtual void reset();
 
+    virtual void setParentSection( QgsAbstractReportSection *parent );
+
+
+  protected:
+
+    virtual bool writePropertiesToElement( QDomElement &element, QDomDocument &document, const QgsReadWriteContext &context ) const;
+
+    virtual bool readPropertiesFromElement( const QDomElement &element, const QDomDocument &document, const QgsReadWriteContext &context );
+
 
 };
 
diff --git a/python/core/layout/qgsreportsectionlayout.sip b/python/core/layout/qgsreportsectionlayout.sip
index 7bfdab56365..9d01b5740f1 100644
--- a/python/core/layout/qgsreportsectionlayout.sip
+++ b/python/core/layout/qgsreportsectionlayout.sip
@@ -33,6 +33,8 @@ Constructor for QgsReportSectionLayout, attached to the specified ``parent`` sec
 Note that ownership is not transferred to ``parent``.
 %End
 
+    virtual QString type() const;
+
     QgsLayout *body();
 %Docstring
 Returns the body layout for the section.
@@ -55,6 +57,13 @@ is transferred to the report section.
     virtual QgsLayout *nextBody( bool &ok );
 
 
+  protected:
+
+    virtual bool writePropertiesToElement( QDomElement &element, QDomDocument &document, const QgsReadWriteContext &context ) const;
+
+    virtual bool readPropertiesFromElement( const QDomElement &element, const QDomDocument &document, const QgsReadWriteContext &context );
+
+
 };
 
 
diff --git a/src/core/layout/qgsabstractreportsection.cpp b/src/core/layout/qgsabstractreportsection.cpp
index b68c61cf275..9a3356d154e 100644
--- a/src/core/layout/qgsabstractreportsection.cpp
+++ b/src/core/layout/qgsabstractreportsection.cpp
@@ -17,6 +17,8 @@
 #include "qgsabstractreportsection.h"
 #include "qgslayout.h"
 #include "qgsreport.h"
+#include "qgsreportsectionfieldgroup.h"
+#include "qgsreportsectionlayout.h"
 
 ///@cond NOT_STABLE
 
@@ -54,6 +56,95 @@ void QgsAbstractReportSection::setContext( const QgsReportSectionContext &contex
   }
 }
 
+bool QgsAbstractReportSection::writeXml( QDomElement &parentElement, QDomDocument &doc, const QgsReadWriteContext &context ) const
+{
+  QDomElement element = doc.createElement( QStringLiteral( "Section" ) );
+  element.setAttribute( QStringLiteral( "type" ), type() );
+
+  element.setAttribute( QStringLiteral( "headerEnabled" ), mHeaderEnabled ? "1" : "0" );
+  if ( mHeader )
+  {
+    QDomElement headerElement = doc.createElement( QStringLiteral( "header" ) );
+    headerElement.appendChild( mHeader->writeXml( doc, context ) );
+    element.appendChild( headerElement );
+  }
+  element.setAttribute( QStringLiteral( "footerEnabled" ), mFooterEnabled ? "1" : "0" );
+  if ( mFooter )
+  {
+    QDomElement footerElement = doc.createElement( QStringLiteral( "footer" ) );
+    footerElement.appendChild( mFooter->writeXml( doc, context ) );
+    element.appendChild( footerElement );
+  }
+
+  for ( QgsAbstractReportSection *section : mChildren )
+  {
+    section->writeXml( element, doc, context );
+  }
+
+  writePropertiesToElement( element, doc, context );
+
+  parentElement.appendChild( element );
+  return true;
+}
+
+bool QgsAbstractReportSection::readXml( const QDomElement &element, const QDomDocument &doc, const QgsReadWriteContext &context )
+{
+  if ( element.nodeName() != QStringLiteral( "Section" ) )
+  {
+    return false;
+  }
+
+  mHeaderEnabled = element.attribute( QStringLiteral( "headerEnabled" ), "0" ).toInt();
+  mFooterEnabled = element.attribute( QStringLiteral( "footerEnabled" ), "0" ).toInt();
+  const QDomElement headerElement = element.firstChildElement( QStringLiteral( "header" ) );
+  if ( !headerElement.isNull() )
+  {
+    const QDomElement headerLayoutElem = headerElement.firstChild().toElement();
+    std::unique_ptr< QgsLayout > header = qgis::make_unique< QgsLayout >( project() );
+    header->readXml( headerLayoutElem, doc, context );
+    mHeader = std::move( header );
+  }
+  const QDomElement footerElement = element.firstChildElement( QStringLiteral( "footer" ) );
+  if ( !footerElement.isNull() )
+  {
+    const QDomElement footerLayoutElem = footerElement.firstChild().toElement();
+    std::unique_ptr< QgsLayout > footer = qgis::make_unique< QgsLayout >( project() );
+    footer->readXml( footerLayoutElem, doc, context );
+    mFooter = std::move( footer );
+  }
+
+  const QDomNodeList sectionItemList = element.childNodes();
+  for ( int i = 0; i < sectionItemList.size(); ++i )
+  {
+    const QDomElement currentSectionElem = sectionItemList.at( i ).toElement();
+    if ( currentSectionElem.nodeName() != QStringLiteral( "Section" ) )
+      continue;
+
+    const QString sectionType = currentSectionElem.attribute( QStringLiteral( "type" ) );
+
+    //TODO - eventually move this to a registry when there's enough subclasses to warrant it
+    std::unique_ptr< QgsAbstractReportSection > section;
+    if ( sectionType == QLatin1String( "SectionFieldGroup" ) )
+    {
+      section = qgis::make_unique< QgsReportSectionFieldGroup >();
+    }
+    else if ( sectionType == QLatin1String( "SectionLayout" ) )
+    {
+      section = qgis::make_unique< QgsReportSectionLayout >();
+    }
+
+    if ( section )
+    {
+      appendChild( section.get() );
+      section->readXml( currentSectionElem, doc, context );
+      ( void )section.release(); //ownership was transferred already
+    }
+  }
+
+  bool result = readPropertiesFromElement( element, doc, context );
+  return result;
+}
+
 QString QgsAbstractReportSection::filePath( const QString &baseFilePath, const QString &extension )
 {
   QString base = QStringLiteral( "%1_%2" ).arg( baseFilePath ).arg( mSectionNumber, 4, 10, QChar( '0' ) );
@@ -235,13 +326,13 @@ QgsAbstractReportSection *QgsAbstractReportSection::childSection( int index )
 
 void QgsAbstractReportSection::appendChild( QgsAbstractReportSection *section )
 {
-  section->setParent( this );
+  section->setParentSection( this );
   mChildren.append( section );
 }
 
 void QgsAbstractReportSection::insertChild( int index, QgsAbstractReportSection *section )
 {
-  section->setParent( this );
+  section->setParentSection( this );
   index = std::max( 0, index );
   index = std::min( index, mChildren.count() );
   mChildren.insert( index, section );
@@ -285,5 +376,15 @@ void QgsAbstractReportSection::copyCommonProperties( QgsAbstractReportSection *d
   }
 }
 
+bool QgsAbstractReportSection::writePropertiesToElement( QDomElement &, QDomDocument &, const QgsReadWriteContext & ) const
+{
+  return true;
+}
+
+bool QgsAbstractReportSection::readPropertiesFromElement( const QDomElement &, const QDomDocument &, const QgsReadWriteContext & )
+{
+  return true;
+}
+
 ///@endcond
 
diff --git a/src/core/layout/qgsabstractreportsection.h b/src/core/layout/qgsabstractreportsection.h
index cb732191340..3e51a49b68a 100644
--- a/src/core/layout/qgsabstractreportsection.h
+++ b/src/core/layout/qgsabstractreportsection.h
@@ -53,6 +53,17 @@ class CORE_EXPORT QgsReportSectionContext
 class CORE_EXPORT QgsAbstractReportSection : public QgsAbstractLayoutIterator
 {
 
+#ifdef SIP_RUN
+    SIP_CONVERT_TO_SUBCLASS_CODE
+    if ( dynamic_cast< QgsReportSectionFieldGroup * >( sipCpp ) )
+      sipType = sipType_QgsReportSectionFieldGroup;
+    else if ( dynamic_cast< QgsReportSectionLayout * >( sipCpp ) )
+      sipType = sipType_QgsReportSectionLayout;
+    else
+      sipType = NULL;
+    SIP_END
+#endif
+
   public:
 
     /**
@@ -69,6 +80,11 @@ class CORE_EXPORT QgsAbstractReportSection : public QgsAbstractLayoutIterator
     //! QgsAbstractReportSection cannot be copied
     QgsAbstractReportSection &operator=( const QgsAbstractReportSection &other ) = delete;
 
+    /**
+     * Returns the section subclass type.
+     */
+    virtual QString type() const = 0;
+
     /**
      * Clones the report section. Ownership of the returned section is
      * transferred to the caller.
@@ -242,6 +258,18 @@ class CORE_EXPORT QgsAbstractReportSection : public QgsAbstractLayoutIterator
      */
     const QgsReportSectionContext &context() const { return mContext; }
 
+    /**
+     * Stores the section state in a DOM element.
+     * \see readXml()
+     */
+    bool writeXml( QDomElement &parentElement, QDomDocument &document, const QgsReadWriteContext &context ) const;
+
+    /**
+     * Sets the item state from a DOM element.
+     * \see writeXml()
+     */
+    bool readXml( const QDomElement &sectionElement, const QDomDocument &document, const QgsReadWriteContext &context );
+
   protected:
 
     //! Report sub-sections
@@ -263,7 +291,21 @@ class CORE_EXPORT QgsAbstractReportSection : public QgsAbstractLayoutIterator
     /**
      * Sets the \a parent report section.
      */
-    void setParent( QgsAbstractReportSection *parent ) { mParent = parent; }
+    virtual void setParentSection( QgsAbstractReportSection *parent ) { mParent = parent; }
+
+    /**
+     * Stores section state within an XML DOM element.
+     * \see writeXml()
+     * \see readPropertiesFromElement()
+     */
+    virtual bool writePropertiesToElement( QDomElement &element, QDomDocument &document, const QgsReadWriteContext &context ) const;
+
+    /**
+     * Sets section state from a DOM element.
+     * \see writePropertiesToElement()
+     * \see readXml()
+     */
+    virtual bool readPropertiesFromElement( const QDomElement &element, const QDomDocument &document, const QgsReadWriteContext &context );
 
   private:
 
diff --git a/src/core/layout/qgsreport.cpp b/src/core/layout/qgsreport.cpp
index 9051791e0b0..560952ce729 100644
--- a/src/core/layout/qgsreport.cpp
+++ b/src/core/layout/qgsreport.cpp
@@ -40,15 +40,20 @@ void QgsReport::setName( const QString &name )
 QDomElement QgsReport::writeLayoutXml( QDomDocument &document, const QgsReadWriteContext &context ) const
 {
   QDomElement element = document.createElement( QStringLiteral( "Report" ) );
-
-
-
+  writeXml( element, document, context );
+  element.setAttribute( QStringLiteral( "name" ), mName );
   return element;
 }
 
 bool QgsReport::readLayoutXml( const QDomElement &layoutElement, const QDomDocument &document, const QgsReadWriteContext &context )
 {
-
+  const QDomNodeList sectionList = layoutElement.elementsByTagName( QStringLiteral( "Section" ) );
+  if ( sectionList.count() > 0 )
+  {
+    readXml( sectionList.at( 0 ).toElement(), document, context );
+  }
+  setName( layoutElement.attribute( QStringLiteral( "name" ) ) );
+  return true;
 }
 
 ///@endcond
diff --git a/src/core/layout/qgsreport.h b/src/core/layout/qgsreport.h
index 3c957595e0a..0325b98d551 100644
--- a/src/core/layout/qgsreport.h
+++ b/src/core/layout/qgsreport.h
@@ -52,6 +52,7 @@ class CORE_EXPORT QgsReport : public QObject, public QgsAbstractReportSection, p
      */
     QgsReport( QgsProject *project );
 
+    QString type() const override { return QStringLiteral( "SectionReport" ); }
     QgsProject *layoutProject() const override { return mProject; }
     QgsReport *clone() const override SIP_FACTORY;
     QString name() const override { return mName; }
diff --git a/src/core/layout/qgsreportsectionfieldgroup.cpp b/src/core/layout/qgsreportsectionfieldgroup.cpp
index 09a6554c504..ce75358440c 100644
--- a/src/core/layout/qgsreportsectionfieldgroup.cpp
+++ b/src/core/layout/qgsreportsectionfieldgroup.cpp
@@ -98,6 +98,56 @@ void QgsReportSectionFieldGroup::reset()
   mEncounteredValues.clear();
 }
 
+void QgsReportSectionFieldGroup::setParentSection( QgsAbstractReportSection *parent )
+{
+  QgsAbstractReportSection::setParentSection( parent );
+  if ( !mCoverageLayer )
+    mCoverageLayer.resolveWeakly( project() );
+}
+
+bool QgsReportSectionFieldGroup::writePropertiesToElement( QDomElement &element, QDomDocument &doc, const QgsReadWriteContext &context ) const
+{
+  element.setAttribute( QStringLiteral( "field" ), mField );
+
+  if ( mCoverageLayer )
+  {
+    element.setAttribute( QStringLiteral( "coverageLayer" ), mCoverageLayer.layerId );
+    element.setAttribute( QStringLiteral( "coverageLayerName" ), mCoverageLayer.name );
+    element.setAttribute( QStringLiteral( "coverageLayerSource" ), mCoverageLayer.source );
+    element.setAttribute( QStringLiteral( "coverageLayerProvider" ), mCoverageLayer.provider );
+  }
+
+  if ( mBody )
+  {
+    QDomElement bodyElement = doc.createElement( QStringLiteral( "body" ) );
+    bodyElement.appendChild( mBody->writeXml( doc, context ) );
+    element.appendChild( bodyElement );
+  }
+  return true;
+}
+
+bool QgsReportSectionFieldGroup::readPropertiesFromElement( const QDomElement &element, const QDomDocument &doc, const QgsReadWriteContext &context )
+{
+  mField = element.attribute( QStringLiteral( "field" ) );
+
+  QString layerId = element.attribute( QStringLiteral( "coverageLayer" ) );
+  QString layerName = element.attribute( QStringLiteral( "coverageLayerName" ) );
+  QString layerSource = element.attribute( QStringLiteral( "coverageLayerSource" ) );
+  QString layerProvider = element.attribute( QStringLiteral( "coverageLayerProvider" ) );
+  mCoverageLayer = QgsVectorLayerRef( layerId, layerName, layerSource, layerProvider );
+  mCoverageLayer.resolveWeakly( project() );
+
+  const QDomElement bodyElement = element.firstChildElement( QStringLiteral( "body" ) );
+  if ( !bodyElement.isNull() )
+  {
+    const QDomElement bodyLayoutElem = bodyElement.firstChild().toElement();
+    std::unique_ptr< QgsLayout > body = qgis::make_unique< QgsLayout >( project() );
+    body->readXml( bodyLayoutElem, doc, context );
+    mBody = std::move( body );
+  }
+  return true;
+}
+
 QgsFeatureRequest QgsReportSectionFieldGroup::buildFeatureRequest() const
 {
   QgsFeatureRequest request;
diff --git a/src/core/layout/qgsreportsectionfieldgroup.h b/src/core/layout/qgsreportsectionfieldgroup.h
index 6075376ac99..a6abbda26cd 100644
--- a/src/core/layout/qgsreportsectionfieldgroup.h
+++ b/src/core/layout/qgsreportsectionfieldgroup.h
@@ -44,6 +44,8 @@ class CORE_EXPORT QgsReportSectionFieldGroup : public QgsAbstractReportSection
      */
     QgsReportSectionFieldGroup( QgsAbstractReportSection *parent = nullptr );
 
+    QString type() const override { return QStringLiteral( "SectionFieldGroup" ); }
+
     /**
      * Returns the body layout for the section.
      * \see setBody()
@@ -85,6 +87,12 @@ class CORE_EXPORT QgsReportSectionFieldGroup : public QgsAbstractReportSection
     bool beginRender() override;
     QgsLayout *nextBody( bool &ok ) override;
     void reset() override;
+    void setParentSection( QgsAbstractReportSection *parent ) override;
+
+  protected:
+
+    bool writePropertiesToElement( QDomElement &element, QDomDocument &document, const QgsReadWriteContext &context ) const override;
+    bool readPropertiesFromElement( const QDomElement &element, const QDomDocument &document, const QgsReadWriteContext &context ) override;
 
   private:
 
diff --git a/src/core/layout/qgsreportsectionlayout.cpp b/src/core/layout/qgsreportsectionlayout.cpp
index fa5d85615b5..97798156aed 100644
--- a/src/core/layout/qgsreportsectionlayout.cpp
+++ b/src/core/layout/qgsreportsectionlayout.cpp
@@ -59,5 +59,29 @@ QgsLayout *QgsReportSectionLayout::nextBody( bool &ok )
   }
 }
 
+bool QgsReportSectionLayout::writePropertiesToElement( QDomElement &element, QDomDocument &doc, const QgsReadWriteContext &context ) const
+{
+  if ( mBody )
+  {
+    QDomElement bodyElement = doc.createElement( QStringLiteral( "body" ) );
+    bodyElement.appendChild( mBody->writeXml( doc, context ) );
+    element.appendChild( bodyElement );
+  }
+  return true;
+}
+
+bool QgsReportSectionLayout::readPropertiesFromElement( const QDomElement &element, const QDomDocument &doc, const QgsReadWriteContext &context )
+{
+  const QDomElement bodyElement = element.firstChildElement( QStringLiteral( "body" ) );
+  if ( !bodyElement.isNull() )
+  {
+    const QDomElement bodyLayoutElem = bodyElement.firstChild().toElement();
+    std::unique_ptr< QgsLayout > body = qgis::make_unique< QgsLayout >( project() );
+    body->readXml( bodyLayoutElem, doc, context );
+    mBody = std::move( body );
+  }
+  return true;
+}
+
 ///@endcond
 
diff --git a/src/core/layout/qgsreportsectionlayout.h b/src/core/layout/qgsreportsectionlayout.h
index 9ddd053c4ac..fcbf6c76958 100644
--- a/src/core/layout/qgsreportsectionlayout.h
+++ b/src/core/layout/qgsreportsectionlayout.h
@@ -41,6 +41,8 @@ class CORE_EXPORT QgsReportSectionLayout : public QgsAbstractReportSection
      */
     QgsReportSectionLayout( QgsAbstractReportSection *parent = nullptr );
 
+    QString type() const override { return QStringLiteral( "SectionLayout" ); }
+
     /**
      * Returns the body layout for the section.
      * \see setBody()
@@ -58,6 +60,11 @@ class CORE_EXPORT QgsReportSectionLayout : public QgsAbstractReportSection
     bool beginRender() override;
     QgsLayout *nextBody( bool &ok ) override;
 
+  protected:
+
+    bool writePropertiesToElement( QDomElement &element, QDomDocument &document, const QgsReadWriteContext &context ) const override;
+    bool readPropertiesFromElement( const QDomElement &element, const QDomDocument &document, const QgsReadWriteContext &context ) override;
+
   private:
 
     bool mExportedBody = false;
diff --git a/tests/src/python/test_qgsreport.py b/tests/src/python/test_qgsreport.py
index 7d6b8d461dc..5e317aa4587 100644
--- a/tests/src/python/test_qgsreport.py
+++ b/tests/src/python/test_qgsreport.py
@@ -21,8 +21,11 @@ from qgis.core import (QgsProject,
                        QgsReportSectionFieldGroup,
                        QgsVectorLayer,
                        QgsField,
-                       QgsFeature)
+                       QgsFeature,
+                       QgsReadWriteContext,
+                       QgsUnitTypes)
 from qgis.testing import start_app, unittest
+from qgis.PyQt.QtXml import QDomDocument
 
 start_app()
 
@@ -429,6 +432,65 @@ class TestQgsReport(unittest.TestCase):
         self.assertEqual(r.layout().reportContext().feature().attributes(), ['PNG', 'state1', 'town1'])
         self.assertFalse(r.next())
 
+    def testReadWriteXml(self):
+        p = QgsProject()
+        ptLayer = QgsVectorLayer("Point?crs=epsg:4326&field=country:string(20)&field=state:string(20)&field=town:string(20)", "points", "memory")
+        p.addMapLayer(ptLayer)
+
+        r = QgsReport(p)
+        r.setName('my report')
+        # add a header
+        r.setHeaderEnabled(True)
+        report_header = QgsLayout(p)
+        report_header.setUnits(QgsUnitTypes.LayoutInches)
+        r.setHeader(report_header)
+        # add a footer
+        r.setFooterEnabled(True)
+        report_footer = QgsLayout(p)
+        report_footer.setUnits(QgsUnitTypes.LayoutMeters)
+        r.setFooter(report_footer)
+
+        # add some subsections
+        child1 = QgsReportSectionLayout()
+        child1_body = QgsLayout(p)
+        child1_body.setUnits(QgsUnitTypes.LayoutPoints)
+        child1.setBody(child1_body)
+
+        child2 = QgsReportSectionLayout()
+        child2_body = QgsLayout(p)
+        child2_body.setUnits(QgsUnitTypes.LayoutPixels)
+        child2.setBody(child2_body)
+        child1.appendChild(child2)
+
+        child2a = QgsReportSectionFieldGroup()
+        child2a_body = QgsLayout(p)
+        child2a_body.setUnits(QgsUnitTypes.LayoutInches)
+        child2a.setBody(child2a_body)
+        child2a.setField('my field')
+        child2a.setLayer(ptLayer)
+        child1.appendChild(child2a)
+
+        r.appendChild(child1)
+
+        doc = QDomDocument("testdoc")
+        elem = r.writeLayoutXml(doc, QgsReadWriteContext())
+
+        r2 = QgsReport(p)
+        self.assertTrue(r2.readLayoutXml(elem, doc, QgsReadWriteContext()))
+        self.assertEqual(r2.name(), 'my report')
+        self.assertTrue(r2.headerEnabled())
+        self.assertEqual(r2.header().units(), QgsUnitTypes.LayoutInches)
+        self.assertTrue(r2.footerEnabled())
+        self.assertEqual(r2.footer().units(), QgsUnitTypes.LayoutMeters)
+
+        self.assertEqual(r2.childCount(), 1)
+        self.assertEqual(r2.childSection(0).body().units(), QgsUnitTypes.LayoutPoints)
+        self.assertEqual(r2.childSection(0).childCount(), 2)
+        self.assertEqual(r2.childSection(0).childSection(0).body().units(), QgsUnitTypes.LayoutPixels)
+        self.assertEqual(r2.childSection(0).childSection(1).body().units(), QgsUnitTypes.LayoutInches)
+        self.assertEqual(r2.childSection(0).childSection(1).field(), 'my field')
+        self.assertEqual(r2.childSection(0).childSection(1).layer(), ptLayer)
+
 
 if __name__ == '__main__':
     unittest.main()