BOLTON'S local education authority is providing a "satisfactory" service and is on course to make improvements, according to independent watchdogs.

Following a two-week inspection of Bolton Council's education department, inspectors from the Office for Standards of Education (Ofsted) praised the service for its very good management, and rated the special needs education service and social inclusion strategy as highly satisfactory.

But the inspectors said the education authority had moved forward inconsistently since the last inspection four years ago, and needed to increase its pace of change. They were also critical of the authority's communication with schools.

During the review, inspectors highlighted particular strengths, including vision, policy development and decision making, use of resources, and management of school places and admissions. Education bosses were also praised for their boldness in making decisions such as re-starting the Deane School in association with Rivington and Blackrod High, and closing Longsight School in Harwood.

Cllr Carole Swarbrick, executive member for education and integrated children's services, said the education authority's strong areas outnumbered its weak ones. She added: "We had previously examined areas which this report covers, and had already worked out an action plan to tackle some of the negative points raised."

Director of education Margaret Blenkinsop said: "In order to cut down the time head teachers were spending out of school, we condensed the number of consultation meetings. This has resulted in some headteachers feeling less involved, and contributed to a lack of overall understanding of strategy. We are trying to get the balance right."

Mrs Blenkinsop added that it was "debatable" whether they needed to increase the pace of change.

"Pace versus thoroughness is always a difficult judgement when dealing with something as important as education," she said. "It is sometimes too easy to rush into change that proves to have no benefit."

David Johnson, headteacher of Red Lane Primary School and chairman of the Primary Schools' Partnership, said: "We are considering jointly how we can improve communication so that all headteachers feel they have a better understanding of strategy."