TEACHERS have raised fears that children may attain lower levels of academic achievement in the coming years due to public sector cuts and their impact on classroom resources.

The warning comes in a report by Children in Scotland, which also found many families believed the quality of education had already declined since budgets were cut by the Coalition Government.

The poll of 300 teachers, youth workers, parents and council employees revealed 90% of teachers and youth workers believed educational standards will decline as a result of the squeeze on public spending.

It also found 66% of teachers and youth workers did not think they would be adequately resourced to meet educational targets in the next 12 months.

The charity said its findings sounded a warning bell to the Scottish Government with regard to its bid to increase the achievements of Scotland's poorest children, who were likely to be more adversely affected by cutbacks than children from better-off backgrounds.

"Education has been proven to be one of the many ways to enhance social mobility and lift children out of a life of poverty, but there is a real risk that these opportunities will not be realised for many children if it is insufficiently funded," said Jackie Brock, chief executive of Children in Scotland.

"We know that councils and their partners across the children's sectors are being forced to make tough decisions as they try to make their own resources go further than ever before, but we urge that cuts are not made at the expense of our most vulnerable children and families who are feeling their own pressure due to stagnant wages, increased living costs and benefit cuts and who will rely on local council provision more than ever before."

She added: "Schools and education are the key to a successful, prosperous society and must be supported and resourced in order to allow all our children equal opportunity to meet their full potential."

Last week, a report by the National Children's Bureau revealed that, compared to 40 years ago, up to 1.5 million more youngsters are growing up in poor households in the UK and that Britain was lagging behind other industrial nations when it comes to eliminating child poverty.

One child in five children north of the Border is living in poor housing, failing to eat properly and not achieving his or her full potential at school.

Teachers's unions have revealed that members routinely bought essential classroom materials such as pens and pencils because of a shortage of supplies.

Chancellor George Osborne cut more than £300 million from the Scottish Government's budget in June, leaving its resource budget virtually flat at £25.7 billion between 2014-15 and 2015-16, representing a 1.5% reduction in real terms.

The Scottish Government said it shared the concerns, adding it was doing everything it could to help families through "these tough economic times."