Schools are providing support for children from deprived backgrounds worth £43.5m that is not being funded by the Government, according to the head teacher's union.
The National Association of Head Teachers (NAHT) says four out of five of its members provide support for children from poor families including food, clothes and washing facilities - and warns that this will get worse.
More than 2,000 school leaders responded to the survey with 84% saying they provide more support now than five years ago.
The same percentage believed a change in the financial circumstances of pupils’ families was one of the causes of the increase.
NAHT general secretary Russell Hobby said: 'Schools are already finding that they are providing unfunded support. Our research estimates that this costs all state schools around £43.5m per year.
'This is money that schools are having to find to help families who have been left high and dry by cuts to public services.
'This pressure is only going to increase. We know that whichever political party holds power after next week, deeper cuts are coming.'
