with a clear cover. So i'm just wondering if anyone could give advice
on whether it's best to keep them in the dark or in the light?
Also, is it generally better to keep them indoors until they have
sprouted too? I've read a few mixed reports on these things.

Depends on what you're growing, but I often "presprout" outdoor garden
seeds inside in moist sand before seeding them out into rows in the garden.
Gives 'em half a chance against the slugs around here.

What are you trying to grow? Where will you be growing it? What is the
soil temperature outside now, and average day and night temperature? What
temp is the house? Where are you more likely to be able to control the
soil moisture?

An old seed germination faq I wrote long ago:
http://tinyurl.com/caljs