Why use the systematic synthetic phonics method in teaching to read?

Research has shown that phonics taught in a systematic or structured way - starting with the easiest sounds, then progressing through to the complex ones - is the most effective way to drive up standards in reading. This approach aligns with our brain’s ability to learn.

Additionally, as pointed out by neuroscientists and researchers of human cognition, the foundation of reading is speech, and the organization of reading skills in the brain must be built on this foundation. This is important because recent brain research suggests that we must set right any incorrect teaching methods used, since early instruction determines how the brain organizes itself for reading. The systematic synthetic approach builds on these findings, by teaching sounds before letters. 

Evidence from the Clackmannanshire Study (1997-2003) conducted in the United Kingdom showed that children who used this method became better readers much earlier compared to children who used the analytic phonics approach.