EDUCATION bosses were today setting out how to improve their services after the publication of their own education watchdog inspection.

Lancashire County Council was inspected by OFSTED in February and has been told it is on the right track with strong leaders and levels of support for schools.

But the education authority covering Burnley, Pendle, Hyndburn and the Ribble Valley, was given five key areas to improve and told it would not hit targets for Key Stage 2.

Inspectors criticised Preston County Hall bosses for letting schools operate high budget balances, and said more needed to be done to explain to schools about changes in budget information.

And the authority was told to try and do more to evaluate the effectiveness of spending on Special Educational Needs, and speed up the completion of SEN statements.

In his report, HMI David Halligan said: "There has been highly satisfactory progress since the previous inspection."

Alan Whittaker, cabinet member for education, said: "I am pleased that the inspectors have recognised many strengths in what we do and has confirmed that we are on the right track with exciting and ambitous plans for the future."