Learning to read?

So this morning's news brings the revelation that young children must use phonics to learnt to read.
It perplexes me that so often a useful tool morphs into a compulsory tool. Surely all children are different and an approach based on variety would be better? I remember when my son was in reception asking his teacher how she had taught him to read (he picked it up very quickly). Her reply? Using every tool that was available including phonics, word recognition, reading practice and story telling.
English is a complicated language and letters make different sounds depending on the other letters around them (rat/rate). And it absolutely must be fun so that children stay engaged which is why storysacks for example work so well.

off soapbox :)