hi and thanks for all your help and suggestions.
there is such a fine line between them being overtired and ready for sleep. if i put him down too early he will play in his cot until he gets over tired and then he is hard to get to sleep. if i put him down at the perfect time he is asleep in no time.
he is really tired and ready for a sleep at about 9am so i have to string him out until 9.30am. but in the afternoon he just doesn't want to sleep.
thanks again for your help