Federal Education Minister Dan Tehan has offered to bring forward some recurrent funding if they commit to having half the cohort back at school by June.

Mr Tehan said the offer was in response to requests from the sector, but both Independent Schools Victoria and Victorian Education Minister James Merlino criticised the move.

While NSW students will return in a phased approach from May 11, the Victorian government has not yet announced plans to follow suit.

"We've got the federal government forcing non-government schools to choose between money, school funding, or following the advice of the experts in Victoria," Mr Merlino said.

Catholic Education Sandhurst director Paul Desmond said the offer of early funding "doesn't achieve a great deal".

"One of the things that has been remarkable in the coronavirus situation has been ... the unity between Canberra and Spring Street," he said.

"That appears to be fraying at the moment, and that's a pity because both governments have been spot-on.

"I won't be taking the offer of the early payment of money that's coming to us anyway in July; I won't be taking it in May or June if it's connected to opening schools immediately.

"We'll open our schools the very moment the Education Minister and state of Victoria takes the advice of health authorities [to do so].

"Parents need to be absolutely confident that we're not rushing into anything."

Most parents on the Victorian side of the border are under the impression remote learning will continue for the duration of term two.

But NSW schools are actively planning to bring back some students from May 11.

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian said 13 per cent of students were on campus on Wednesday compared to five to seven per cent leading up to the term break.

"It's not a surprising number, given next week is the last week we're encouraging online learning," she said.

"Once kids are all back, I want that to stay for the duration of the pandemic, and that's why we have to get everything right."

Ms Berejiklian said about 25 per cent of the cohort was expected on campus on May 11, with the scaling up of the return "depending very much on what happens in the first weeks".

A Catholic Education Diocese of Wagga Wagga spokesman said the diocese had met the Premier's request to provide learning from home while keeping schools open for supervision.

"The Premier has now requested that students have a partial return to school while providing learning from home for all students and continued supervision for students of essential workers from week three and we are implementing this throughout the Diocese on a school-by-school basis, prioritising the health and welfare of all our students, staff and families," he said.

"We will continue to operate our schools in accordance with NSW Government guidelines."

Xavier High School is hoping to bring Year 12 students back first in a full-time capacity and has rescheduled trial exams to dates in August.

Mr Desmond was confident the 56 schools in Sandhurst would follow his decision, and wasn't aware of any Victorian private schools who will be taking up the funding offer.

"We're [Sandhurst] a very unified body," he said.

"I am fearful that the unsettling nature of this will be for parents, who clearly want their kids back at school and so do we - but not until the authorities say it is 100 per cent safe."

Mr Desmond said he did not know what a review of the state of emergency might bring.

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"I pick up on what the Premier said yesterday, that they're holding fast to the May 11 date," he said.

"There are some kids still going to school as they are the children of emergency and essential service people, there are some children whose parents pick up paper hard-copies everyday, and there are some kids that log onto their computer.

"All three seem to be working - yes, there's been a couple of hiccups - but nothing very negative.

"I'm full of admiration for the principals and staff of these schools."

"Once kids are all back, I want that to stay for the duration of the pandemic, and that's why we have to get everything right."