"Quite an elaborate ruse to get his foot size so that a pair of new tennis shoes could be left with his teacher for him"
I think thats the only way how neglected children can get help. If each familiy raising their children the "propper" way takes care of a classmate like that, it would change the situation.
The less the parents of the classmate care, the less they will mind handdown cloth, weekends spend at your house etc.
Sadly most parents tell their children to stay away from classmates like that. Some of those children dont have a chance from the day they are born.............