I bought my 10 yr.-old grandson a cheap fountain pen for Christmas. His handwriting has improved massively (used to be the old spider staggering out of the inkwell type).
We had to use fountain pens at grammar school and one of my teachers stated firmly that 'Ball pens b**ls-up writing'. He was right. Our local junior school has insisted on fountain-pens for 10 yr. olds since Sept. and they are very pleased.