The government has threatened term-time holidaymakers with fines

Geraint Davies, secretary of the NASUWT teachers' union in Wales, expressed his sympathy for parents who take their children on holiday in term-time.

As well as the cost savings, travel could be educational, he said.

But the union's national headquarters said that it could not condone taking pupils out of school for holidays.

Mr Davies's comments, reported in the Western Mail, have reignited the debate about whether it is fair for parents to withdraw pupils from school for a trip - behaviour that has been condemned by the government.

'Broadens the mind'

"Parents take their children on holiday during term-time for a variety of reasons, particularly because it can be hundreds of pounds cheaper for a family of four. And it is often the only time they can take time away from their business," said Mr Davies.

"And I'm in favour of that. I believe children, especially young children, can learn a great deal from a holiday, be it in this country or abroad. Travel broadens the mind and captures the interest of pupils - it can help very much with their education.

"Primary school children in particular would learn more from two weeks in the sun than in school."

I cannot work out how Geraint Davies thinks children will learn more spending two weeks at Disneyworld than sat in class Vince Warrington, Leicester, UK Have Your Say

"If a child goes to the Costas for a fortnight they are living in a foreign country, with a different culture and society and have to adapt to the climate, the food and the currency."

However the union's general secretary, Chris Keates, rejected the idea that it was acceptable for parents to take pupils out of lessons during term-time.

"It is not the policy of the NASUWT to condone taking pupils out of school during term-time," said Ms Keates.

It can undermine the continuity of a child's education, she said, and create more work for the teachers who have to help children to catch up with missed lessons.

'Dangerous notion'

The NASUWT suggested that Mr Davies's comments might not represent his full views on the subject.

Last year, the Department for Education and Skills told parents not to take their children out of school during term-time - and said that head teachers could impose �100 truancy fine for parents who ignored the warning.

The government argues that children's education is disrupted by term-time holidays, although parents are entitled to take their children out of school for up to 10 days a year, with the head teacher's permission.

The Conservatives' education spokesperson, Tim Collins, warned against parents taking children out of lessons.

"Giving very young children the idea that they will learn more outside the classroom than in it, is a desperately dangerous notion," he said.