Onions from seed can be sown in January but unlike tomatoes who like it hot, you want the temperature around or slightly below 15C for onions. Watch out on sunny days, it may be cold outside but the temperature can shoot up in the polytunnel. Onions like a good long period between sowing and the summer solstice so ideally sow as early as possible if you have a polytunnel or a greenhouse you can start them as early as February. The link attached gives information on how to grow your onions.
http://www.allotment-garden.org/vegetable/onions-growing/grow-onions-from-seed/