Summoned to nursery to discuss DS's behaviour- HELP!

[JamAndPeanutButter]

DS has just turned 2 and goes to nursery full time while I'm at work. The girls at his nursery have pulled us aside a couple of times and said that he has been hitting out at them and other children. I've been quite upset over it as we have a very strict 'No Hitting' policy in our house (adults and children!)so I dont know where he is getting it from.

I cant believe that his behaviour is so bad as to warrant being summoned to discuss what we're going to do with him! Apparently he hit a boy with something yesterday which left him with a bump on his head, perhaps the boys parents complained, but DS has come back with bumps and bruises from jostling/ pushing and I put it down to toddlers being toddlers.

Has anyone else had these problems? I am 8 months pregnant with DC2 which may be a factor in his behaviour and he never seems very happy when I drop him off (he used to be very happy in the under-2's unit from which he's just moved)

If he's dealing with older children after being with the under 2s, it may be that they're better at not getting caught than he is, not that he's a trouble maker. What's the age range of the children in his new group? Sometimes an older child can tease or give a sly push or pinch, and when the younger child retaliates without giving it much thought, it looks as if there's an out of control 2 yo being wild and an older child in whose mouth butter would not melt.

It seems a pity to change a child out of a group just on the basis of calendar age. Was this the case or did the teachers think he had sufficient maturity to handle a new group made up of older children? i.e. what other criteria besides turning 2 were used to decide to bump him up. Some 2 yos are mature enough to deal fairly well with change and can handle older and more wily children, but some are not.

"...he doesnt seem very happy when I drop him off."
I think that is your starting point. If he was previously happy in the under-2s, then maybe he has found the transition too much, after all, he is only just two.
Is he with different staff? Does he know the other dc? Are the staff caring and patient?
If he is hitting out, he is perhaps showing his distress at this new situation, as he is unable to verbalise whats wrong. Equally, dc do sometimes go through a phase of "hitting". Perhaps another dc has hit him?
Dont be upset that you have been asked to go into nursery.Use it as an opportunity to ask questions and whether it is possible your ds can go back to under-2s, and try the move again in a few months?
Ask the staff what THEY are going to do to help your ds? He is only 2, and they cannot expect you to reprimand him once at home-he wont know what hes being tpld off for. The onus is on the Nursery to work with you, NOT put the ball back in your court.

DD went through a biting phase and we had a number of conversations with nursery. They were only ever about how we (us and nursery) would deal with it. The nursery should definitely be working with you to help sort things out. DD also started to act up, not biting but general attention seeking, when I was pregnant with DC; in fact she's still doing it but again nursery are being a big help. Talking to them may be a good thing!