Hi Humphrey, Yes you are dping the right the thing as hard as it may seem. And lets face it it's not like you are leaving him and he is in that state all day, it is only for a short time when he first gets there. It may seem like forever for him and maybe even you but i promise as time goes by and he adjusts to the environment and the routine of it he will react in a more positive manner. Have you tried to leave something of yours with him to "look after" until you get back, i am not sure if at his age he would understand the concept but it may make him feel a little more secure knowing he has something of you until you get back.

As a trained child care worker i had all the theories as to what i needed to do when DS (3yrs at the time) started pre school in order to help him settle in, i was not prepared however for the emotional pull it would have on me when i had to leave with him crying, which in turn i ended up crying a few times. It only lasted i think 4-6 visits of him crying but after ringing them half an hour later to find out he had stopped crying before i left the carpark was a relief. I made it my mission then to get him settled in an activity before i left and let him know i was interested in what he did.

Good luck and i hope it gets easier for the both of you.