Before I get stuck into my rant I just want to make it clear that I am not against formal education for children under 7 or whatever; I'm generally very happy with my DCs progress at school
BUT
my 6yo DS, in Year 1, is expected to do joined-up writing in preference to printing & it seems ridiculously laborious to me. He doesn't complain, but whilst his printing can be very neat & legible, his JUW is like a spider in its death-throes. Surely children of that age should be concentrating more on spelling & meaning of words rather than handwriting? Is it a National Curriculum thing? And why? And am I the only one frustrated by this?