'Play dates' for five year old. Are they an essential event for kids?

[Chumble]

Ds is five and just finishing reception. He is a quietly confident little boy who is happy to play with his siblings or also on his own. At school he talks of many children and appears to have a best friend who he mentions most of the time.

We have invited this child over a few times and another child who have come over to play. He invited another child who seemed too shy to come.

When we walk home other kids call after him and when we have bumped in to people in the park he is able to play with these children so I know he skilled socially!

Ds does not mention play dates but I am overhearing many conversations at the school gates where kids seem to be at each others house quite regularly. Just wondering how many play dates people have during a month? I suppose I wonder if I am disadvantaging him if I do not have play dates? Am I?

With DS it was probably a handful a year, with very sociable DD it's more like once a week.

I think playdates lessen as they get older and can go and call for friends themselves, whereas when they are in R/KS1 they need a parent to arrange their social life.