This practical staff development guide aims to help senior managers, practitioners and others, including placing authorities, to evaluate the quality of provision made for children and young people in residential special schools and secure care accommodation services. It highlights effective ways in which services can fully support some of Scotland's most vulnerable children and young people. This guide recognises the diversity of needs of children and young people placed in residential special schools and secure accommodation services, including those with physical, sensory and complex needs and autistic spectrum disorders. They also include children and young people with significant social, emotional and behavioural difficulties, some of whom require secure care and education. Appended are: (1) Calendar of activities; (2) The six-point scale; and (3) Making the change from good to great and achieving excellence: "How good is our school 3?: Journey to Excellence". (Contains 12 footnotes.) [This paper is a joint report by the Care Commission and HMIE.]