Laurie Benn is undoubtably telling you the truth. The JAA syllabus is massive and to produce a quality course is a major task. As far as I know several schools are now approved for the JAA ATPL including Oxford but many are using notes produced under contract for them by Four Forces. You should ask them who wrote the notes as many products will be substantially the same and you might also ask what experience they have running distance learning courses if that is your choice. All the schools will be approved in the first six months of next year.
I am pretty sure that distance learning will be the preferred option, mainly on the grounds of cost, but it will still run in at £2000 to £2500 before tax relief. Not all schools will offer distance learning packages.
The subject of tax relief is unclear. I cannot see how the traditional NVQ can be offered because this was specifically for the CAA CPL IR. VTR 2 for the over 30's might be possible but only on a course that is 'substantially full time'. The Inland Revenue ultimately decide if a course qualifies, not the school and if the school get it wrong the money has to be repaid.
One further point worth considering is, as I read the rules, if you start with a groundschool provider you have to finish with them. This means that if you have bought a bad product you get no credits for the work you have done if you switch to another provider, caveat emptor in spades!
My best advice would be that, unless there is a time factor, you would be better placed waiting until the first few exams have been sat and we have a clearer idea what is required. At the moment we can only teach to the syllabus and have no real idea which topics are important and which are not.