The LEA s contribution to improving early years provision is good. The evidence from school visits indicates that the LEA s support has helped to enhance curricular planning and assessment procedures, has provided training and assisted in the development of a closer partnership between schools and families . Strategic Management Corporate Planning Technically, the processes and procedures appear comprehensive but in practice there is no articulated vision coming from the Council and no priorities to guide individual services in seeking to deliver the Council s aspirations . The Group has had, ahead of practice in other departments, an overarching three year plan since 1995, which is updated annually. The LEA thus has, in principle at least, sound processes.
Planning is strongest at the service centre level.
Whilst these plans could be improved in matters of detail, they do provide a useful record of action planned and a framework for monitoring subsequently. Practice thereafter tends to be stronger in the areas covered by statutory plans . The LEA is effective in building strong relationships with schools, other departments and with external agencies such as the police, the health authority and church bodies . The information provided to schools on each service is good. It has the particular strength of including details of both centrally funded and traded services.