The Federal Government has threatened to withdraw funding from independent schools if they do not open on a limited basis for the second school term.

Key points: Independent schools have been told they must provide some face-to-face teaching

Independent schools have been told they must provide some face-to-face teaching Education Minister Dan Tehan has threatened to cut the funding of schools who do not comply

Education Minister Dan Tehan has threatened to cut the funding of schools who do not comply National Cabinet met on Thursday to discuss education concerns

In a letter to bodies representing independent schools, Education Minister Dan Tehan ordered that, while the schools did not have to reopen in full, they must provide an option for children who could not stay at home amid the COVID-19 crisis.

The demand makes it clear that schools' funding is contingent upon them opening their doors to students who need to attend.

"We want all schools to be offering that learning environment for those parents who have to work, and for those children where it's safer to be in the classroom," Mr Tehan said.

"As part of the funding requirement you have to be offering this to parents whose children you're educating."

Mr Tehan said his concerns were related to a small number of schools he believed were not offering the face-to-face teaching options that public schools were.

"What we want is a nationally consistent approach," he said.

"What we want to do is ensure that when it comes to independent schools, and Catholic schools as well, that they're also providing that learning environment.

"There were some independent schools that weren't offering — for parents who had to work at all year levels — that opportunity for those students to get that safe learning environment."

The Government's health advice has remained that it is safe to send children to school, however that message has been implemented differently across the states and territories.

In-person attendance remains an option in public schools across the country, particularly for parents who cannot keep their children at home.

Geoff Newcombe from the Association of Independent Schools of NSW said he believed only a small number of non-government schools were not offering options to parents.

"There would not be a handful of school that haven't had part of their campus open to accommodate these families," he said.

"A couple of them might have been boarding schools … others I think felt they had an excellent online capacity."

Amid concerns about a looming second term and fears about year 12 students being affected, the National Cabinet met on Thursday afternoon to discuss the impact on the education sector amid the coronavirus crisis.

The Government has already ruled out having students repeat their final year of schooling.