Strictly between you and me, there’s a killing to be made this summer if you book fast. According to the tour operators, the 2009 high season ends on August 29 - the last week of the summer holidays. Thereafter, prices plummet as the kids go back to school and demand dries up. But this year is different.

Of the 175 local education authorities (LEA) in England and Wales, about 80 per cent have scheduled the autumn term to start on Thursday September 3.

However, a significant number of schools within each authority have scheduled teacher training, or “inset” days, for September 3 and 4, meaning that most children won’t actually start school until Monday September 7.

By exploiting this bureaucratic anomaly, canny families who gain that extra, secret week of the summer holidays - you can find out if you qualify by checking with your LEA - can grab themselves what is, effectively, a high-season break at a low-season price. And there are some staggering savings to be made.

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There are some drawbacks, however. Getting home from holiday the day before the start of a new school year could mean your offspring arrive for the first day of term tired, fractious and sunburned, and waiting until the end of the summer holidays means suffering six weeks of “are we nearly there yet?”-type nagging. But you’ll cope. Just think about the money you’re saving.

HERE ARE SOME DEALS

Cornwall

For a late summer week in Cornwall, try Classic Cottages (01326 555555, classic.co.uk ), which has tumbleweed blowing through its website from August 29 onwards. Among the dream cottages lying vacant is the charming Sunnyside in Marazion, sleeping five and on offer at £606.

If you’d booked the previous week, you’d have paid £906, but if you need somewhere bigger, try Stroma, perched on the cliff above the cove at Port Isaac. The house sleeps 11, and would cost £2,406 for the week commencing August 22. Come during secret week, and the price is £1,386, or £18 per person per day.

Wales

Similar savings are up for grabs in Wales, where you can save £305 renting the delightful Lobster Pot Cottage in Newport — was £712, now £407 — with Coastal Cottages of Pembrokeshire (01437 765765, www.coastal cottages.co.uk ).

Norfolk

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