Targets for reducing infant class sizes have been met a year ahead of schedule, according to a council report.

Brighton and Hove Council's performance improvement plan for education says all infant classes either have 30 or fewer pupils or a ratio of up to 30 pupils for each teacher.

The plan, which goes before an education committee tomorrow, also reports standards have improved in both English and maths.

It says a successful bid gained Government support to enhance pre-school special needs services. Five co-ordinators will support nurseries and other pre-school settings in meeting the children's needs.

The city created 761 new childcare places to the end of March this year.

In another achievement recorded last year 58.3 per cent of looked-after children achieved at least one GCSE pass, almost twice the national average.

The plan also mentions spending to create additional places at Longhill School in Rottingdean and a public-private finance proposal to extend Patcham, Dorothy Stringer and Varndean schools.

There has also been an increase in pupils with special educational needs moving on to post-16 education or training.