Overbearing friend for DS. What can I do?

[Ohdoleavemealone]

DS has a "best friend". He is nice enough but very possesive with DS. The best friend doesn't "allow" DS to play with anyone else because BF then wouldn't have anyone to play with. Ds says he pulls on his coat and holds him back to stop him going off with others.
Apparently BF won't play with anyone else because they won't let him pick the game and he only wants to play what he suggests. So DS is his only friend. I don't have a problem with DS playing with BF but I want him to have other friends and DS clearly does as he tells me often that he has tried to play with someone but BF has said no or that he can only play with other kids when BF isn't in school or after school club.

I am getting increasingly concerned and other than encouraging play dates with others outside school, I am not sure what else I can do? Is this something I can discuss with the teacher?
Is there anything she can actually do?

BF mum and I get on okay and we met a few times over summer when restrictions were lighter and she mentioned the lack of friends for her DS and that she was worried but he didn't seem bothered. I don't really want to bring it up with her but since they went back to school, DS has said at least once a week about wanting to play with others. Obviously I tell him that he can say no to BF but he says it isn't that easy. They are in yr 3 and both 8.

Definitely speak to the teacher, they can run interference.

Yes, you can definitely talk to the teacher about it. Explain how DS feels, and that you are concerned he’s becoming cut off from his peers. It will be of benefit to both of them. Ask for him to be put in groups without BF in lessons, and for them to encourage group games.

And set up play dates with other kids over HT.

Thanks. It is parents evening soon so I will bring it up then.

Agree with HelloDulling

This is one of those things that seems small, but can really impact a child socially.

Agree Suited.

I have tried to explain to him that this one friend may not be around forever and that he should have more than one friend but he is more concerned about upsetting his friend than his own well being.

Have some play dates with other children. ( if you’re Covid tiers allow) and speak to the teacher

Also teach your da to say stop

Ds

Can only have outdoor play dates at the moment which we did after school today.

I have told him to say no, to tell a teacher, to walk away etc. He says if he doesn't play with BF then he will have no one. I told him it isn't his responsibility but he is too nice!

We had this exact similar situation with DS1 at that age. We spoke with the teacher who found other 'buddies' for the boy and spoke to both him and DS 2 about the need to play with other children too. Plus she did extra playtime supervision and helped the lad play with other people. It definitely worked!