Nursery won't let me help Ds on Christmas Craft Day.

[whimsy]

DS1 was off school last week with a chest infection, I called the secretary on Monday morning and explained and she agreed I should keep him off.
Went to nursery yesterday and the other mom's were handing in money for Father Christmas which I asked about and teacher went off and handed me a letter they had been given last week.
On reading letter when I got hope it said they were holding a "Family Christmas Craft Day on the 1st Dec and that we had to sign to say if we wanted to help out dc make their Christmas cards ect.
I handed it back to the teacher when I went to pick up ds and she said it was a first come, first served thing and that I was a surplus parent but could help yr 1&2 instead. Now I know it would be lovely to help the other children who's moms can't be their but what about my ds, what's he going to think when the other mom's are there and I'm not.
TBH it has really upset me, it feels as though he has been penalized for being ill. Would it be wrong for me to ask the teacher to explain the policy, surly if it's first come first served they should make allowances for children not there.Maybe see how many parents want to help then do some sort of draw? I wouldn't mind but I am always first to fill any form in, If they had rang me I would have got someone to watch he boys while I went to collect and sign the form.
Any thoughts (ps have been awake all night worrying about it )

[southeastastra]

yes speak to the nursery, it does sound quite mean, perhaps they're only allowed a certain number

[mitbap]

Looks like the parents are not being asked to go and help their own children. Seems like each class needs a certain number of adults additional to the norm to help with all the cutting and sticking. There'll be lots of kids whose Mum isn't there - not because they can't be but because only a handful are required. If every other kids mum was going to be there then you would also be there because it's highly unlikely they've set the number required at number of children minus one!!
I wouldn't help with the other class - that would look odd to your child.
Our school sometimes does it first come first served - sometimes random draw.
I bet there's nothing to worry about. Did you ask how many mums are going?

[hana]

i don't think the nursery are being mean or penalizing your son for being ill. They would have had limited number of extra people they could take on for that activity - it's not about helping your own child, it's about being a helper to any children that may need help!
Most mums won't be there - I'd imagine it's only a handful
please don't worry about it, there will be other chances to help out I'm sure!

[Twiglett]

a child will not be sitting with his parent

a number of parents will be going in and helping a group of children to do the cutting and sticking

you want to do this for you (totally understandable) .. don't extrapolate to DS being upset because he won't be

You're right it would be lovely to help in another class and see what the class / teacher is in the year he's going to be in eventually

do not worry about it

do not oversentimentalise it either

honestly it is far less fun than it appears it will be

[whimsy]

Thanks everyone and your all right
I spoke to the teacher this morning who told me it was more of a production line They won't actually just be sitting with their own child.
Twiglett, I hadn't thought about it like that, it would be nice to see what he'll be up to next year.