Any teacher should be using a variety of methods and teaching styles. Phonics is now required to be a daily part of the Primary school curriculum but is used alongside and within other techniques. The government guidelines were put out to school in the booklet 'Letters and Sounds' which outlines what should be taught but leaves the teacher to choose exactly how to deliver it. I work with young children 3-7 years and tend to use rhymes, puppets and games to teach phonics.