The government is a step closer to passing Gonski 2.0, with Pauline Hanson's One Nation announcing it will support the education reforms.

One Nation whip Brian Burston has confirmed the embattled minor party will back the $18.6b needs-based funding legislation.

"It's a fair deal, it's based on need, and the fact a school can apply for extra funding based on special needs I think is a good thing," Burston told The Australian .

However Coalition MPs could prove one of the sticking points, with some taking umbrage at the "raw deal" Catholic schools are getting out of the bargain, which still amounts to some $3.4b in extra funding.

West Australian Liberal Chris Back, who will retire from the Senate this week, has said he could not support the Gonski 2.0 package in its current form.

Catholic schools communities, the teachers' union and Labor strongly oppose the plan and are likely to try to make their arguments heard.

It was an eyebrow raising feature of Gonski 2.0 , handed down in May's " Labor-lite " budget, that Catholic schools would lose some $4b over the next decade, unlike in the Labor incarnation of the Gonski model.

The government's version, if passed, will see the imposition of the same funding standards for students nationally, irrespective of where they go to school.

Simon Birmingham. (AAP)

As a result state agreements will be voided, along with 27 other deals, under the new plan.

With just four sitting days of parliament left before the winter break, One Nation's support is invaluable and timely for the government to say the least. However it still faces opposition from the likes of the Greens, must to the chagrin of senior cabinet members.

"I ultimately hope that every senator sees the benefit in national, needs-based school funding, an extra $18.6 billion into schools and that everyone votes to support that because, frankly, it makes sense and it should be passed by the Senate this week," Education Minister Simon Birmingham told the ABC , adding that there were "no grounds" for senators not to back the package.

Richard Di Natale. (AAP)

Greens leader Richard Di Natale has said that he won’t be "rushed" into making a decision.

"It may be that we are able to reach a decision this week, it may be that there are areas that need further development," he told the Sky News .

"If that's the case then we're not going to be rushed into a timetable simply because it's the Government that wants to rush this through the Senate and neutralise a tricky political issue. In the end, we've got to get it right."