Going back to mainstream school didn't seem to bother any of us. I was 13, my brother 11 & my sister 8.
We went back to our old schools in the new year. At first people thought we'd moved away & moved back, but my parents worked in shearing sheds, so we travelled with them.
We were only out of school for 6 months though.

My cousin was home schooled full time & it has had a very negative affect on his whole life. He went to school for a few months here & there, but his mother always pulled him out when she realised they were only teaching him stuff for his age group (She had him doing year 7 maths at 6.)
They also never really spent time around other children or people. She is a single mum & there are only the two of them. He has no idea how to interact with other people. He is a very smart kid, but because he's never been socialised he treats everyone around him like they are completely dumb & incompetent. We are thinking his mother maybe paranoya schitzofrenic though. She appears to be & my grandfather was, so obviously these things aren't the norm.

After seeing that though I have never liked the idea of home schooling at all. Its only my experience & only full time, but I have pretty warped views on it.

Honestly though DSODE was great IMO. If I had to I would do it with my kids. If your worried about the home school transition I think just make sure he is around kids as much as possible out side of school.
My BIL & SIL went to a primary school of 12 kids. My SIL went straight to high school with 1000 kids & it was a bit daunting for her. My BIL did year 6 in a bigger primary school before high school, so the transition was easier for him.