Herefordshire Virtual School for looked after children

This is part of the SEEdS (Social, Emotional and Educational Support) service aimed at providing support to the adults who are caring for and supporting children who are looked after by Herefordshire Council.

Are you worried about the behaviour of a child you care for or other areas of their development? Then video interaction guidance (VIG) is for you.

What is VIG?

Video interaction guidance (VIG) is an approach which recognises the skills carers have and supports them to develop their interactions with their children, in a way which supports the child's development and promotes the child's ability to make secure attachments. School staff and carers have noticed the difference it makes to children and there is also great deal of research evidence which shows how effective it is in bringing about change for children.

The VIG approach is great because it helps carers to reflect on exactly how what they are doing naturally in helping the children. Being involved in VIG really helps carers see specifically what they are doing, and how this supports their children. When they see what they are doing well, it enables them to do more of that specific thing, and also to try different approaches in order to support the child even more. It is a really positive approach which recognises the skills of the carers in promoting the child's development.

VIG can also be helpful when carers feel they are struggling with a child and feel their relationship may not be as positive as they would like. VIG can help them to reconnect with their child in a positive way.

What happens in VIG?

Session 1

The VIG guider, an Educational Psychologist, will talk to you to explain a bit about VIG and will show you a short video about how it works. They will then talk with you about your child and what you would like to be able to help them with, for example, their communication, behaviour, staying calm. The guider then makes a short 10 minute video, of you doing an enjoyable activity with your child. You and the guider discuss what sort of activity you feel your child would like to do. After this the guider takes the video away and analyses it, to pick out the most helpful moments, which show how you are helping your child.

Session 2 (usually 1 to 2 weeks later)

You and the guider look at the video together, in clips of a few seconds each, to really help you to see what effect you are having on your child, and how what you are doing is supporting them. Most people find this is a really positive, empowering experience, as they can see the impact they are having on the child. This is called the 'shared review' and will usually last about 45 minutes. During this session this you will discuss how you may be able to support your child to develop further.

At the end of this session, we then make another 10 minute video with your child, for the guider to take away and bring back to the next session.

Further sessions: Typically, most people have about three video sessions followed by a shared review.

Final session: A shared review looking at the final video and evaluation of the progress you feel you and your child have made.

Most people really enjoy the process of taking part in VIG, and feel it is a really positive, helpful experience for their child and themselves.

What carers have said about VIG?

"It was lovely to see how we connect with each other and to see her smiling at me and the way she looked at me."

"I was a bit nervous about seeing myself on video, but when I actually saw it, it was really special to see what I was doing well."

"I feel much more confident that I'm doing a good job and giving him what he needs, he seems much calmer now."

Visit the Association of Video Interaction Guidance website for an animation of VIG in action.

For further information please contact Ursula Beck, Educational Psychologist Herefordshire Virtual School at ursula.beck@herefordshire.gov.uk