wannabe 15:
The CGI and the x hours classroom are talking aboutduring your ATPL studies and being entered into the exam, not the study. If your going to do distance learning the classroom time is covered in your 2 weeks consolidation before you sit the exam and the CGI will sign your exam application form to say you are okay to sit the exam.
tl:dr - You don't need an FTO to endorse you to start your ATPL theory.