Is cursive handwriting part of the national curriculum?

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DD year 4 struggles with cursive handwriting, she is given extra support and whilst practicing on 1-2-1 basis feedback is good but once back in class under timescales you cannot read her writing. Teacher has said if she doesn't join marks will be taken off any assessments. If she writes without joining her handwriting is neat and clear. I would like her to just be able to write as long as you can read it, but School have said it is an expectation. I was wondering if it is part of the national curriculum?

I get that joining letters will in time be quicker and have explained to ds that lifting his pen after every letter takes more time than not doing so, but at the moment he's not having it!

I don't have a problem with cursive being taught per se, my gripe is that our school have decided that there is only one way to do cursive, EVERY letter must start on the line with a leader, including first letters in words (which I think is unnecessary) and means that children are (for example) linking an 'r' with an 'a' by drawing a line from the end of the r down to the line and then starting the 'a' rather than joining from the top. Because they have had it drummed into them that EVERY LETTER MUST START ON THE LINE!!!

I looked at the relevant bit in the National Curriculum - I am aware I am one of 'those' parents - and it states that children in years 3 and 4 should be able to join with horizontal and diagonal strokes where appropriate, but also that they should recognise which letters, when adjacent, are better left un-joined!

I just wish that there was some flexibility, but it appears that there isn't at our school.

DS is 18 and his writing is dreadful, I do believe it is because he was taught to join from day 1 at school and he just doesn't do it neatly or easily. His printed writing is lovely and even and legible, but his cursive looks like he is writing with his eyes closed. He finds it painful to write and we are convinced that he didn't fulfil his potential in his GCSEs because he loathes writing and so doesn't write enough, even though if you talk to him he is articulate and knowledgeable, and his typed work is of high quality.

I honestly believe that the emphasis on joined up writing is unhelpful and not very inclusive for children who don't have SEN and so don't qualify for support, but struggle to master cursive.

It is a crazy obsession, because although some people need to write, I very rarely do I have to be able to sign for deliveries and sometimes fill in a form - although many of those are online. Due to their severe hypermobility none of mine can write neatly. I have now had two injure their wrists just through doing exams. They are both learning to touch type, which for many occupations will be a far more useful skill.