Ok, I haven’t read the entire thread, just commenting on what I’ve have read.
Op you say he might not continue with his nursery friendships, why dose this matter as long as he has friends and is enjoying himself. And there is a good chance he will still maintain these friendships in school anyway. We moved overseas at the beginning of the year, today my DD had a video chat with one of her old classmates, she chats to several of them during the week, but this particular class mates parents are very strict on technology so I had to arrange it via his mum. My DD was super excited as he’s her oldest and best friend from nursery, she loves telling me stories about what they use to do. Granted she’s probably making half of it up, but what dose it matter, hey have been friends from day one at nursery and both love each other to bits even though they are no longer in the same country.
Reception class is all about easing children in, it’s usually very relaxed for the children and play led learning still.
I don’t like or agree with the UK school system, but school is not just about reading, writing and maths. I would rather my DCs go to school, learn social skills, build friendships, learn structure and routine than isolate them at home because I don’t agree with the entire school system. There are also lots of other advantages, after school clubs, ones my DCs have attended are, tennis, dodgeball, mindfulness, yoga, first aid, football, computer science.... they do group activities, plays, choir, music, they have movie nights, discos, Easter bingo, family quiz nights. They hold an annual science competition for all students, and other run a activities and competitions through out the year, reading, writing, drawing.... the school competes in an annual swimathon for charity each year, they also do charity walks.
Through school I enrolled my DDs into rainbows and brownies, something I was always dead against but their friends did it so I gave it a go, my DDs love it, they have done so much more than they would have if I hadn’t have signed them up.
Other things my DCs have done in primary school, visited various religious buildings, to learn about different faiths and cultures. Had outside organisations in to run glow in the dark sports events as some fun, this was an idea the school got after some students attended a county wide glow in the dark tournament amounts other primary schools throughout the county. Visited various locations, historical, agricultural, scientific. They also regularly bring home veg they have grown on the school allotments themselves. And so much more.
I am very relaxed with my DCs, I don’t force them to do homework with the exception of spellings once a week. I have made my feelings clear I don’t agree with STATs and the first sign if my DCs feeling stressed I’m pulling them out of it and they will not be doing them.
I know a lot of these things can be achieved with home schooling, but I don’t believe the level of social interaction can be achieved, especially for a child who obviously likes being around other children.
Your DS has already been introduced to the social aspect of school, via nursery, do you really want to take that away from him now?