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79% of teachers claim their pupils are turning up for lessons hungry, with 68% stating the main reason that children are arriving unfed is because of apathy by parents, while 69% cited a lack of time at home.

In a bid to solve the problem, the report found that many teachers are buying food for youngsters out of their own pocket. Nearly one in three (31%) of the teachers questioned said they take food into school to give to hungry pupils, with 16% of primary teachers saying they spend up to £24.99 a month feeding youngsters.

It warns arriving for school hungry can impair a child's concentration, cause behavioural problems and impact on learning. Asked how hunger can affect pupils, some 93% of teachers said it decreases concentration, 87% said it increases tiredness, 73% said it affects attainment and 71% said it leads to poor behaviour.

The report, published to mark the launch of Kellogg's "help give a child a breakfast" campaign, suggests that breakfast clubs are a cost-effective way to ensure that children eat before lessons, but adds research has found that many clubs in schools across England have closed in the past year due to lack of money. The Opinion Matters survey for Kellogg's questioned 500 teachers between August 7th-21st.