National Diversity Awards Testimonials
We were delighted earlier this year when our founder, Bambi Gardiner, was nominated for the Entrepreneur of Excellence Award at the National Diversity Awards taking place in September.
Here are some of the wonderful comments made about Bambi’s work from a few of our lovely customers who were asked to give their reasons for supporting her nomination:
2020-05-07 11:05:56
Providing resources for those who are overlooked in education. Those with struggles feel a sense of inclusion and are able to receive an education with ease thanks to Bambi.
2020-05-07 11:03:36
Prioritising those who are overlooked and making sure they feel inclusive in learning and education
2020-04-07 13:22:40
Amazing online resources and renewal prices. A lot of effort gone into world leading KS3 subject packs.
2020-04-07 08:42:32
Oaka books has helped my son so much and made learning and revising so much fun. He particularly loves the board games.
2020-04-06 07:00:03
These guys have provided amazing material for my dyslexic child to be able to access information supporting school work …as a teacher I\’ll be using their materials for my GCSE science classes in the future.
2020-04-05 12:22:13
Providing awesome resources ! Thank you
2020-04-05 06:33:58
Bambi produces excellent visual resources to enable children to access classroom and home learning. The games help to involve children in family life with siblings whilst still learning and developing The online aspect has been crucial to many in these unprecedented times on so many levels.
2020-04-04 07:16:01
As a dyslexia specialist myself, I have no hesitation in recommending the amazing resources of Oaka Books. Their fun and engaging style is perfectly designed for those with dyslexia and as one of my learners said recently \”it just gets more into my head\”. Their resources turn learning into a pleasurable and effective activity.
2020-04-03 19:32:03
They have transformed learning for my dyslexic son, I simply can’t praise these books enough.
2020-04-03 19:26:29
My son really enjoys the games and it is great to have resources which make learning fun. He will happily \\\’play a game\\\’ through which he revises Common Entrance material without the need for me to put any pressure on him to \\\’study for exams\\\’.
2020-04-03 17:13:03
Provides a platform to teach children with all different types of need in a fun & interesting way, that keeps up with the curriculum. This can be done online & the more traditional way, along with games etc to make it fun.
2020-04-03 16:14:52
At last! Revision guides and workbooks for those who learn differently. Bright colours / pictures to assist learning for dyslexic children. I am delighted to support the nomination
2020-04-03 15:09:20
The books gave my son, an accessible educational tool, that took the stress out of learning.
2020-04-03 14:14:41
Our very traditional prep school head pulled us into school and said there was no point in our son taking CE, we were wasting our money. 18 months later after a lot of hard work he came out with 4 A*, 1 A, 3 B and a C Using the Oaka books helped us to break his subjects down into manageable chunks. No hesitation to recommend to other Year 8 parents whether they are dyslexic or not!!
2020-04-03 13:42:59
Brilliant work that like most crucial and hugely important but sometimes ignored needs of So Many people and especially the children of this world struggle to cope with… Why should any person/ child believe that they cannot do what everyone else around them (especially in schools where its prevalent most) when it comes to the most basic need that everyone has the right to a good education. So many people who have such learning indifference have proven to be immensely successful and respected because they are extremely bright individuals.
2020-04-03 13:37:18
Excellent support for learning for dyslexic students up to GCSE level
2020-04-03 13:35:26
A very lovely lady who has been very helpful during my teacher training year with resources for dyslexic learners.
2020-04-03 13:26:27
Excellent resources
2020-04-03 13:09:43
Since unexpectedly attempting home education due to the current pandemic, I have found my job as parent/teacher made so much easier by the Oaka Books resources. I have an autistic 8 year old under assessment for dyslexia, and two neurotypical 7 year olds. The clarity (presentation, language, artwork) of the Oaka Books material is fantastic – it is perfect for dipping in to, and accessible for those struggling to read independently. Once normality has resumed, I will definitely seek to use Oaka Books resources to help support their learning at school, and the games will be fantastic for revising and cementing the knowledge if revisited periodically. I feel lucky to have discovered such a wealth of accessible material!
2020-04-03 13:05:58
They have produced fantastic resources for dyslexics who are visual learners. There are no other resources like them and they have been produced from the heart, not just as a money making venture.
2020-04-03 12:44:18
For providing interesting and relevant resources for young people who think differently and can excel with the right support.
2020-04-03 12:40:51
Works endlessly to help provide learning resources for children with special needs,
2020-04-03 12:26:36
As a committed dyslexic teacher myself, I am unfortunately very aware that there are not that many quality materials available for teachers of dyslexic children to use in their schools. Oaka books certainly fills this gap with their attractive, colourful revision tools which pupils are keen to use. My pupils have been so grateful for the alternative and fun ways to revise their subjects. Keep up the good work Bambi! Many thanks, Alison Walters
2020-04-03 12:24:05
Fantastic work books that help my dyslexic son!
2020-04-03 12:05:19
The oakabooks products are extremely well thought out and accessible. They have worked wonders in engaging children and helping them to feel able, included and to grow in confidence. Wonderful products, affordable too.
2020-04-03 11:57:15
I’m a dyslexic adult who studied diligently thoughtout school yet failed exams. I’m now home schooling my own kids and having visual learning is really important to me.
2020-04-03 11:54:16
gives all students a fair chance at succeeding
2020-04-03 11:53:38
Great company , they really help learning at all levels.
2020-04-03 11:52:12
The books are accessible and structured in a way which is easier for children with Dyslexia to understand. They are fun too!
2020-04-03 11:48:59
I have purchased some of the board games which my kids love. Very engaging and informative. Will definitely be purchasing more.
2020-04-03 11:47:25
A great product.
2020-04-03 11:43:23
We have used these amazing books in school and the pupils have benefitted from the visual resources and games. Quite difficult topics have been broken into easy to digest chunks for children with processing issues. The online quizzes give them a sense of achievement too.
2020-04-03 11:42:52
It is a brilliant system that has really helped children that would normally fall through the cracks in the current schooling system and Bambi has huge commitment and dedication to helping the SEN children of this country.
2020-04-03 11:40:28
OKA produce superb resources that help my dyslexic pupils immeasurably. They are beautifully designed, relevant and fun. OKA are worthy candidates for this price
2020-03-15 17:00:53
Happiness is a delivery from Oaka Books. Everyone in our house loves the Oaka Books learning system. My son has working memory problems and I was worried that I couldn\’t give him the support that he needs to learn. Oaka Books are our support and have literally saved me hours, days, weeks and months of work. I can\’t thank them and recommend them enough. It\’s an active learning system which means that learning is guaranteed. Even schools can\’t provide a guarantee like that. My son was able to ace some subjects by throwing away the boring wordy school textbooks and simply following the Oaka Books active learning system. Thank you Bambi. You are a very worthy nominee for this award and we hope that you\’ll win. You certainly deserve it.
2020-03-14 20:40:41
I bought the entire set of these books for my daughters common entrance exams and not only was it a great way for her to learn but also the ease of the test cards was invaluable that helped me help her learn as well teach myself along the way!! The simplicity of the books really allows the information to sink in and transform the child\’s confidence. Bravo to an awesome product.
2020-03-12 11:48:29
Oaka Books offers a great solution to a gap in learning. Bambi has personally developed the Oaka resources and her attention to specific needs for children of all abilities has made the business a huge success. Using her own experiences as a mother she has been able to use her experience to help schools, children and families by developing the engaging range Oaka has to offer.
2020-03-12 11:33:33
Bambi has worked so hard and has put her heart into her business to help provide additional support to children. In this day and age the tools and resources used in schools are limited and aimed at certain criteria. Oaka Books in my opinion offer disadvantaged children hope and confidence that they can strive for their dreams too! This is all down to Bambi believing in her product and investing her time to help others. Keep up the great work Bambi and Oaka Books.
2020-03-10 11:42:13
Inspirational materials that are accessible to so many students that find \’ standard\’ materials out of their reach though no fault of their own. The difference they can make for children is beyond words.
2020-03-09 19:08:22
The Oaka resoures have transformed revision time in our house and we all love a game of \”Global Locations\” thank you Oaka – your products are truly amazing and help us improve the confidence and learning with our girls
2020-03-08 20:16:33
The service provided is brilliant and unique. It’s great that there are so many topics available and that you can also use online or have in print.
2020-03-08 18:54:43
My son and I can completely identify was this story. We try to fill the gaps at home but until we found Oaka books all study guides were complete inaccessible. These books are different. My finds himself unable to look at the pages in a regular study guide, wincing as if in pain and turning say. With Oaka science books we have made great progress. We began by using these as a starting point for “Saturday science club” but I was learning too. I realised that we needed repeat the same lesson several times, using lost of deferent games, drawings, models – taking the reinforcement methods in the books and adding new games (some from Oaka and some which I able to create myself using the techniques which I had learned). I am a scientist myself so the content is not new to me but these books have given my son and I am engaging means to share I subject which I love. And now I can’t wait to try the new GCSE packs but it’s not just the product. I have contacted Bambi on a number of occasions. Her enthusiasm, response times and attentiveness go way beyond “good customer services”. Bambi has a way of making me feel that the books have been designed and illustrated just for me and my wonderfully diverse family. Bambi deserves every success with venture because she has clearly poured her heart and soul into every page but it’s just as important we showcase these products so that more parents and more children can benefit Thank you
2020-03-08 16:41:33
The most amazing resources that have made a huge difference to my dyslexic students.
2020-03-08 12:23:00
I have known Bambi Gardiner and Oaka Books since 2015 when I was asked to approve their Geography teaching resources on behalf of the Independent Schools’ Examinations Board (ISEB). Straight away, I was impressed with the highly visual and colourful approach that Oaka Books adopts in presenting factual knowledge and explanations of geographic processes. In addition, their use of age appropriate vocabulary in an easily readable font, makes their resources both attractive and accessible for even the most reluctant learner. Oaka Books resources in all subject areas are highly suitable for use in the classroom, as homework and for home learning. Since introducing Oaka Books to my own school, other teachers have been quick to realise the usefulness of their resources, particularly for children that are reluctant readers or dyslexic. The various resource packs, workbooks and games really aid the students’ learning and retention of key facts and skills. Bambi\’s passion for her work, literally transforms lives by unlocking the true potential of dyslexic pupils. In addition, her resources have assisted and reassured many anxious parents longing to see their children thrive at school. Oaka Books’ CEO, Bambi Gardiner, has built a company that supplies educational resources of high quality. Bambi has an excellent feel for the education market and is quick to realise the commercial potential of new innovative products. Bambi is both professional and reliable in all her business dealings. Oaka Books are a rapidly growing concern that occupy a unique niche amongst the panoply of educational publishers. I have no hesitation in nominating Bambi Gardiner as an outstanding innovator and supplier of first class educational resources. Simon Lewis MA, PGCE, FRGS ISEB Geography Editor and 13+ CE Setting Team Leader Director of Environmental Studies & Eco Strategy Head of Geography St. Andrew’s School (Woking)
2020-03-08 07:02:28
Helping children meet their potential
2020-03-08 05:32:43
Fantastic, colourful and informative books which keep my daughter engaged in her learning.
2020-03-07 19:33:36
The Oaka books products have been invaluable in ensuring my children can enjoy inclusive education. There is not another product on the market that allows for their full engagement given that they have SpLD. I believe a win in this would enable so many more parents to be able to help engage their children. It is time that this hidden disability started to receive wider recognition as so many children struggling with SpLD are having to be educated in a mainstream setting without adequate differentiation.
2020-03-07 09:35:58
Wonderful educational books.
2020-03-07 09:17:05
Bambi\’s resources have been an invaluable help as our Y8 pupils have prepared for their 13+ Science exams. The books are thoughtfully compiled and fabulously accessible and the games are enjoyed by all, regardless of learning support requirements.
2020-03-07 06:54:31
There are, thankfully, many resources to help children with different abilities learn all kinds of topics but Oaka Books with its range of colourful, visually enhancing products makes learning and teaching an absolute pleasure. I have used the games and workbooks while home educating to re-introduce my son\’s love of learning and will be forever grateful that these products exist.
2020-03-07 02:25:58
Excellent resources and love the way they are constantly looking at ways to help children learn in an engaging way.
2020-03-06 23:20:19
Bambi’s relentless effort and work to change the narrative for dyslexic children in our educational system is simply incredible. I’ve witnessed first hand the difference Oaka Books is making and my wish is more children will be able to benefit from their ongoing development of innovative and refreshing resources
2020-03-06 20:40:35
Bambi’s visual learning approach has helped many children to access previously difficult areas of the curriculum. She also connects positively with her customers at all times.
2020-03-06 20:21:22
My child has a range of specific learning difficulties and trying to navigate the current education system is an ongoing nightmare. The work that Oaka books is doing champions and supports those children who cannot access the national curriculum and who would otherwise be left to fail purely because they think and work in a different way.
2020-03-06 20:21:20
Oaka books have been a great learning resource for my SEN son. They are very clear & have amazing visuals.
2020-03-06 19:55:33
Brilliant resource helped my son through common entrance
2020-03-06 19:49:10
Bambi has enabled a great many children to take ownership of their learning and break existing barriers to learning. Children traditionally labelled as problematic can now show they are as capable, or even more capable, than most.
2020-03-06 18:45:40
my son loves the books and the games that come with them as they are interactive and fun
2020-03-06 16:06:30
Created amazing no nonsense for my children: One dyslexic and the other overwhelmed by huge amounts of dense text.
2020-03-06 15:51:13
As a family with dyslexic children we experience first hand the positive influence these wonderful materials have on the learning on our children.
2020-03-06 14:50:44
Superb solution for dyslexic learners. A innovative resource not found elsewhere in the education market
2020-03-06 14:42:55
My boys love the Oaka resourses
2020-03-06 14:41:40
Oaka books have really helped my son with his CE preparation by providing resources that are not intimidating and make learning fun for him.
2020-03-06 14:33:22
Bambi’s contribution to supporting children with dyslexia! Without dedicated people like Bambi there wouldn’t be any resources for children like my daughter to use. These resources help her to learn and flourish! Thanks Bambi
2020-03-06 14:17:12
Bambi is truly inspiring and passionate about making a difference to improve the education of dyslexic children. The support Oaka Books provides to children through their learning resources is invaluable and should be commended. Winning this award would help recognise their achievements so far but also help them boost their profile and brand to allow others the chance to benefit from their fantastic resources.
2020-03-06 14:15:04
I vote Bambi Gardiner for her great development in helping children with dyslexia disease, understanding how books with images can help them in their approach of learning
2020-03-06 14:08:30
A fantastic and engaging resource, the children love it. Looking forward to the new GCSE topic packs.
2020-03-06 14:07:54
My children have both benefitted hugely from Oaka’s books and games. They are a breath of fresh air for visual learners!! Bambi is a very deserving winner!
2020-03-06 13:56:16
Great resources for schools
2020-03-06 13:45:15
The product has literally changed my daughter into a confident learner. The variety of visual learning aids are amazing. It’s even built our relationship and made it stronger – the trust from my daughter to me.
2020-03-06 13:36:04
Wonderful provider of educational supplies and outstanding games to aid learning, hugely approachable, friendly and knowledgeable, cannot praise this lovely lady highly enough
2020-03-06 13:35:11
Bambi and her team helped our home go from a conflict zone into one where doing homework and learning was calm and fun. My son was completely lacking in confidence and demoralised by school work but Oaka was transformational. He now has more confidence to ask questions (rather than hide) and actually enjoyed learning about the Spanish Armada thanks to the wonderful map and little ships. Previously History was \”rubbish, stupid and impossible\”. The resources are well designed and the whole service is brilliant. I wish I had discovered Oaka earlier. If this award helps their profile so more people can know about them then that alone is priceless to all those parents and children struggling with dyslexia. Last thing – Thank you Bambi.
2020-03-06 13:24:29
The books are excellent teaching/ learning resources. A fun way to learn and game included also. The digital version is equally as good with its quiz also. Very well presented books and a worthy nominee
2020-03-06 13:19:35
My children both struggle with retaining information and can feel quite overwhelmed by certain subjects. These books have been a godsend. They’re informative and fun. They are also reasonably priced and are delivered really quickly. We look forward to seeing any updates on the website for new packs.
2020-03-06 13:16:18
We have used the Oaka resources for a number of years now to support Year 7 and 8 pupils with their common Entrance exams. We find them very valuable for supporting less able pupils with thieir revision. The Oaka revision packs are colourful, clearly laid out and easy to use. We also love the Oaka revision games. We have been so impressed with Oaka that we have recently bought the digital version of the Oaka revision guides.
2020-03-06 11:39:53
I teach at the School Sophie used to go to. My daughter is very similar and is just about to sit her exams to her next place of education. we have the full range of topics and they have been so helpful with our revision. Her confidence has grown and we are ready for the next step.
2020-03-06 10:19:05
Fantastic product, dedication to Dyslexia and a very hard working and driven lady out to prove that Dyslexic help is available to schools and families alike.
2020-03-06 10:17:46
Bambi\’s story is inspirational, not only because she developed a solution to her own identified family need, but also in her determination to share it with so many others who have similar issues by devising and promoting innovative approaches to teaching children with Special Educational Needs who would otherwise be left behind and unable to realise their potential. I have no hesitation in supporting her nomination.
2020-03-06 09:28:03
Oaka books is such a fantastic idea Bambi thought of, she has developed in to so many topics and helped many young people understand parts of their education that was going over their heads
2020-03-06 09:11:25
The work that both Bambi and Oaka Books carry out is fantastic in ensuring that dyslexic and SEN children get the most out of their education and go on to fulfil their potential. Having seen some of the topic packs myself, I found the information so much easier to digest than just a block of text, as well as being fun, engaging and a joy to learn about a specific topic. This nomination would give Bambi and Oaka Books the exposure they deserve, so that they can continue to make a huge difference in so many more children\’s lives.
2020-03-06 09:01:18
The work that both Bambi and Oaka Books carry out is fantastic in ensuring that dyslexic and SEN children get the most out of their education and go on to fulfil their potential. Having seen some of the topic packs myself, I found the information so much easier to digest than just reading a block of text, as well as being fun, engaging and a joy to learn about a specific topic. This nomination would give Bambi and Oaka Books the extra exposure they deserve so they can go on to make a huge impact on even more children\’s lives.
2020-03-06 04:30:56
The resources Bambi has created are phenomenal, they are transforming kids’ lives. In addition to this, her care for her clients is exceptional.
2020-03-05 22:10:11
Amazing resource and so beautifully produced Has helped so many dyslexic children reach their potential
2020-03-05 21:50:13
Bambi (my mum) has shown great commitment to the dyslexic community. As a dyslexic myself I love the way Oaka Books makes learning fun and interesting to people who might not have that opportunity to be able to learn in the way schools teach. She deserves to be recognised for her efforts to help not only children but their families as it affects everyone in the family when someone is struggling. Having seen the effort she has gone into producing Oaka Books to not only help her me but to help thousands of other children who she has never met it makes her even more deserving for this award. It really did change my life for the better through my school years increasing my confidence to achieve the grades I needed to get firstly get into my top choice secondary school and then onto my GCSE\’s.
2020-03-05 21:26:20
Excellent learning tools which helped my daughter hugely with her common entrance revision
2020-03-05 21:16:17
Bambi has developed education resources that really make a difference to children with SEN. She should be celebrated for doing this and building a business to bring them to a wider audience.
2020-03-05 19:39:11
Bambi\’s Oaka books made a real difference in my daughter\’s learning. The use of pictures to explain academic topics helped instantly with absory and retention of what\’s been taught. I wish I discovered Oaks books earlier. Thank you Bambi!
2020-03-05 18:48:31
Bambi has come up with a unique and powerful approach to help visual learners reach their potential.She deserves to win this award so that her message reaches more people and more children can use her learning booklets and games to help them succeed and enjoy learning.
2020-03-05 15:00:34
As a parent of a dyslexic child, I appreciate the challenges faced. Our struggle hasn\’t been anywhere near as bad, but the tools being created by Bambi and Oaka Books are critical to giving all children an equal opportunity to develop and fulfil their potential in life.
2020-03-05 10:16:59
Many sen children do not find the support or resources they need in school. Bambi has been hugely supportive to the home educating community and stiil continues to be so, Oakabooks have made a real difference to many children\’s learning experience.
2020-03-05 10:09:19
Just a great all round person. Nothing is too much trouble. The company has a human touch and you know you are dealing with a kind and understanding person. It’s just a pleasure to do business with her.
2020-03-05 09:16:03
Bambi has shown oustanding devotion to her customers and is always available to help them.
2020-03-05 07:44:23
I used to work for Bambi as an illustrator for Oaka Books, and she is an absolutely strong individual with such a huge passion and focus into creating the revision material for Oaka Books where her time revolves around Oaka. She has a strong drive to not only make it a success, but to ensure that it helps dyslexic students by interacting closely with parents and teachers and looking into feedback from students as well, to ensure that the products that Oaka Books produces serves them well. Well done Bambi!!
2020-03-05 00:32:26
Brilliant concept and so easy to use . ???
2020-03-04 22:46:06
Oaka Books produce fantastic resources that have helped all 3 of my sons who have special needs, to enjoy learning. Bambi has gone above and beyond to help one of my sons by enlarging and printing several topic books in A3 to make the resources accessible for his large writing and other writing difficulties due to his Dyspraxia. I really think Bambi is deserving of recognition for her work in supporting children with learning difficulties and also for helping parents to help their children learn in a fun way.
2020-03-04 22:17:41
Bambi has created an extraordinary resource for children with Oaks Books. She is truly an inspiration and utterly deserving of this nomination. I am the CEO of a national Children\’s charity and we have been delighted to work with Bambi over the past few years.
2020-02-29 15:59:57
It is estimated that 1 in every 10 people in the UK have dyslexia, including 870,000 schoolchildren, many of whom remain undiagnosed. Commonly, dyslexic children have difficulty at school. This leads to them falling behind, particularly if their teachers do not understand why they are struggling and they are consequently labelled as \’slow learners\’. A vicious cycle continues with dyslexic children falling further and further behind and losing confidence. Bambi founded Oakabooks to address this need. She found that her dyslexic daughter struggled with the textbooks used at school and decided to develop a brand of engaging, accessible, image-driven text books aimed specifically at dyslexic children. These texbooks aim to overcome the problems that these children often have with reading and processing blocks of text. Bambi has recognised that these children should not be left behind – her books use creative cartoons, images and well-worded text to enable dyslexic children to stay focused and interested in their studies. As a result she has reports from teachers of children progressing at fantastic rates; leaping from the bottom of the class to the top. She is enabling children, who may otherwise be left behind, to learn on a level playing field with their peers, helping to set them up for life. Bambi is driven, committed and truly cares about the children and teachers that she is helping. I believe that she is fully deserving of this award.