"Irritating beyond belief but I hear from many of my teacher friends that they are absolutely swamped in paperwork so I guess I have some symnpathy."
You know what? I am utterly pigging sick of hearing teachers whine about how bogged down they are, what a dreadful job it is, etc etc. as an excuse for not doing the job properly.
In the years before ds was born, I worked as a technical trainer (and then training manager) in an IT firm. I taught technical courses, in an area where the technology changed literally every month. I had to devise courses for our clients, re-write for new developments, often devise courses for specific client requirements, which involved learning what each client needed. I didn't have a set curriculum to work to, nor pre-writen resources I could pick up the internet.
I actually taught 3 or 4 days a week EVERY week, 9 util 5 or 6. My lunch hours were usually spent with the course delegates, not hiding in a staff-room to get "my break".
I travelled on business, and I was also involved in pre-sales and post sales support. so the one or two days per week I wasn't actually teaching were packed with all sorts of admin and preparation work.
I didn't get 13 weeks away from the classroom every year, I got the standard 4 weeks plus bank holidays.
And before anyone starts on salaries, No I wasn't paid a hugely greater salary than an experienced teacher receives.
Compared to a great many jobs in the commercial sector, teaching in a junior school really isn't that dreadful (remember I'm a school governor with very close connections to the school. I do know what the teaching staff do).
I don't think it's unreasonable to expect reports to be written decently. It's not as if they come up as a surprise.