CHILDREN are arriving at school dirty, with unwashed hair and unbrushed teeth because of “hygiene poverty” caused by the “worst cost-of-living crisis in half a century.”

Teachers’ union NASUWT is backing a campaign calling on the government to tackle the problems faced by families who cannot afford to buy basic materials such as soap, toothpaste and detergent.

The Clean Up Child Hygiene Poverty campaign has been launched by charity The Hygiene Bank and cleaning products firm Smol following its survey of 500 school staff.