Kevin and Perry, a pair of 3-month-old pygmy goats, have arrived at Headlands School.

They have joined four alpacas, a raft of ducks, a brood of hens and a dog called Dexter as part of the school's Animal Learning Centre.

The charismatic kids were collected from Wynnes of Dinmore farm in Herefordshire yesterday.

They have already made quite the impression on Headlands students.

"We've been so excited," 17-year-old Chloe Stephens told Nub News. "They were cuddling all the way home yesterday and are so cute and seem really happy here.

"If I'm feeling a bit down I can come down here and mess around with them. One of them jumped on my leg earlier. It just feels really good."

Headlands' therapeutic approach to development caters for children aged between seven and 19.

Run by the charity Action for Children, the school's model is designed for children and young people who have experienced early developmental trauma and those with a diagnosis of Autistic Spectrum Conditions.

The animals have been brought in for both educational and therapeutic purposes.

The Animal Learning Centre assists students in achieving their ASDAN CoPE accreditation.

The certificate is made up of 12 modules, and the animals help the students develop animal husbandry, construction and "environment" skills.

"Come the summer, we'll do open days for the community and we'll offer teas and coffees, so that will help the young people get a hospitality qualification too," explains David Gillingham, the teacher who leads the Animal Learning Centre.

"With the animals, it's about trying to get a good balance between accreditation and the mental health of the kids.

"Loads of research has been done on animal therapy and how it increased endorphins through neurotransmitters and produces serotonin to make you happy."

The students Nub News spoke with this morning were certainly smiling, whatever the science behind it.

"It makes coming to school more calm," post-16 (Key Stage Five) student Joe told us. "With the animals, I'm also more motivated to come in Before they arrived, I wasn't that interested in school and would takes days off.

"They make you want to come in."

The goats are undeniably charismatic - climbing on rocks, munching on dandelions and jumping on students.

Pygmies are a miniature, genetically dwarfed breed of goat that originated from the Cameron Valley, West Africa.

According to the British Goat Society, "the adult Pygmy has a maximum height at the withers (tallest point on back) of approximately 56 cm for males, less for females, short legs and cobby bodies that give an impression of perpetual pregnancy.

Mr Gillingham hopes the goats will have an impact in the wider community and the school's part within it.

"One of the bigs things for me, because I'm a Penarth resident, is the interaction between the local community and the school kids," he said.

"People are sometimes unsure what we're about at Headlands, but now it's amazing to see some of the older people chatting with the kids. It's the community element as well.

"Some kids may have difficulties, but we're just a normal school really. We want to be part of the community."

Visitors to Uppercliff Close are not guaranteed to spot Kevin and Perry, unlike the alpacas who tend to graze near a fence visible from the road.

The alpacas, who arrived in September, are decidedly less keen on Kevin and Perry than the students are. Quite timid and jittery by nature, the much larger creatures are treating the plucky arrivals with extreme caution, running away if they get too close.

"I think they'll get over that," said David. "The alpacas are quite a nervous animal but at Wynnes of Dinmore they've got alpacas and the goats alongside each other, so they do will mix well.

"It will just take a bit of getting used to for them."

Nub News last week revealed that Headlands had submitted a planning application to redevelop the disused grade II-listed hotel building situated at the front of the grounds.

They are also planning to establish an apiary near the recently planted wildflower garden and allotment.

Flick through our gallery above for more photos.