Schools in Tier 4 will remain closed for another two weeks in an attempt to reduce the number of coronavirus cases.
Education Secretary Gavin Williamson confirmed they have made a number of changes to the plan as cases continue to rise.
Secondary school pupils will not be fully returning until mid-January at the earliest, however the majority of primary school pupils will go back on Monday, January 4.
Exam-year pupils in non-Tier Four areas will now not be back in the classroom until January 11, with other year groups back full-time on January 18.
In a small number of areas where infection rates are highest, only vulnerable children and children of critical carers will remain in school.
It is not all Tier 4 areas, Gavin Williamson confirmed and ongoing testing will follow for staff in primary school later in January.
Secondary schools will have a staggered return, but it will be mid-January before all pupils are back.
Mr Williamson said: "Because the Covid infection rate is particularly high, we are going to allow more time for all its pupils and staff for testing.
"This kind of testing will help protect everyone in the community.
"It will break those chains of transmission, which in turn will make it safer for children to school."
In those two weeks, as many pupils and teachers will be mass tested as possible.
Universities are being asked to reduce the number of students to return to campus at the beginning of January.
All students should be offered two rapid tests upon their return.
