In a decision branded a “victory for common sense”, Appeal Court judges ruled that it is not illegal to remove a child from school as long as they have a good attendance record.

The Department of Education immediately vowed to close the loophole and change the law to remove the requirement that attendance is “regular”, meaning that every unauthorised absence will be illegal.

However, the changes could take years to take effect and in the meantime millions of families could book term time holidays, experts said.

The issue has become a cause célèbre, with the Government refusing to back down despite the exorbitant prices that families face for trips away during designated holidays, which can cost eight times the normal price.

This week a survey of package holidays for a family of four at a four- star hotel in Tenerife, Majorca, the Costa del Sol and the Algarve found that prices increase for the coming half-term were up 115 per cent compared with the same trip taken two weeks before schools close.

More than 50,000 parents were fined last year alone for taking their child on vacation during term time, with many citing the fact that the savings dwarf the £60 penalty per child.