Inspectors report that the LEA is particularly effective in some areas. Nevertheless, some functions are currently performed inadequately. Elected members are committed to education and have been prepared to tackle difficult issues, such as the provision of school places, since the Council took on responsibility for education following local government reorganisation in April 1998. However, inspectors say that some working practices inherited from the old Borough Council have undermined the new LEA's relationship with its schools, and corporate services have found it difficult to adjust to working with autonomous schools. In particular, the provision of payroll and financial support and the management and maintenance of school buildings have been unsatisfactory.
Recent improvements are, as yet, insecure.
The report concludes that Reading LEA's strengths outweigh its weaknesses, and while some key challenges have been successfully tackled and resolved, there is some way to go to make the LEA fully effective. This will require the continued commitment of members and officers, working in close partnership with schools, to secure improvement. However, the LEA is well placed to deliver the recommendations of this report, and to improve further its support to schools. It used the Framework for the Inspection of Local Education Authorities , which focuses on the effectiveness of the LEA's work to support school improvement. The inspection also took account of the Local Government Act 1999, insofar as it relates to work undertaken by the LEA on Best Value.