My 21 month old is usually very happy at nursery, and had got to the point of happily toddling in and barely saying goodbye. However in the past 3 weeks or so he's really changed at drop off and now cries (which is unusual behaviour for him as normally very happy). The nursery has mentioned they've noticed he seems unhappy at drop off. I thought perhaps it was about separation, or playing up to the parent dropping him off. However nursery also told us that during the day he was very reluctant to go back into the room - holding onto the worker's legs and not wanting to go through the door. i find this more concerning than the tears at drop off because it sounds like he is fearful of something in the room.
Several months ago he transitioned to a new room, so only spends part of the day in the room he doesn't seem to like. However it is only much more recently that this behaviour's begun so I don't think it's about the transition.
The only thing we can think of is that they had someone come in to do photos, and after that he was really frightened of my comb at home so I think they used one on him and he didn't like it (we don't normally brush his hair). However it's weeks since the photographer was there, and we've managed to overcome his fear of the comb at home.
He is always happy and engaged at pick up, and the staff all seem lovely. There is one exception, who's fairly disengaged, however I think she has been in the room longer than this behaviour's been happening. Also she is not his key worker so he probably has limited contact with her anyway, and the others all more than make up for her shortcomings.
The nursery have raised the concern with us but don't have any suggestions. Don't know what to do to help him!