With HOD, you really have several great options here!

Could you please share a bit about your ds in regard to the placement chart columns of reading, writing, grammar, and math? Where does he seem to place in these areas?
Writing is a consideration. When you look at this thread, does he seem ready for the writing in PHFHG without having done BHFHG?
Amount of writing in Bigger vs. PHFHG:
viewtopic.php?f=6&t=3602
Reading is a consideration. Did he do "Drawn into the Heart of Reading" last year? Also, when you look at PHFHG's deluxe package and science package, can ds read these books on his own independently?
http://www.heartofdakota.com/preparing- ... ckages.php
The level of independent work and the amount of directions ds will need to be able to follow on his own in PHFHG is also a consideration. When you look at the "I" boxes of PHFHG's first week of plans, can he do these boxes well on his own?
http://www.heartofdakota.com/pdf/PHFHG-sample-week.pdf
Cursive and grammar can easily be done with PHFHG, so those areas are not as much of a concern. Likewise, DITHOR can be done with BHFHG or PHFHG, so that is not as much of a concern. I'd love to hear your thoughts about this when you get a chance! Just remember, ds has many great options here, so whether it is BHFHG or PHFHG, he will be just fine. HTH!
In Christ,
Julie