Some 69 percent of the teachers who took part in the research agreed that hygiene poverty is a reality in their school, and the same proportion said that the issue has got worse since the start of the Covid pandemic.

       The teachers reported a range of issues from unwashed hair and PE kit to unbrushed teeth.

       Many of them said that they have had to send a child home or intervene in some other way to try to help. For example, they’ve lent (35 percent) or bought (42 percent) products for pupils, or referred families to food banks that can provide toiletries.

       Being clean shouldn’t be a privilege – but when the choice comes down to paying the rent, heating the house or putting food on the table, it’s easy to see how there’s no money left for deodorant, period products or toothpaste.

       Lizzy Hall, who founded The Hygiene Bank in 2018, says its work has never been more vital: "We have seen demand for our services increase. Yet we’ve only scratched the surface in terms of what’s needed, given that 14.5 million people were already living in poverty pre-pandemic.

       "Feeling clean is something many of us take for granted if you’ve never had to worry about whether you can afford deodorant or body wash.”"

       *Boots One Poll study 2021.