Sally, from Kirkby Malham, North Yorkshire, was given just hours to live after being admitted to hospital in April suffering from the heart disease cardiomyopathy.
A donor organ was found after a last-ditch nation-wide appeal by her parents.
Sally has made a wonderful recovery from the surgery, and has been looking forward to starting classes at Malhamdale United Aided Primary School on Tuesday.
Sally's parents Jon and Bridget described the last months as a "real rollercoaster".
Mrs Slater said: "Realistically, I guess we never thought we would see the day when she would return to school.
"Obviously there was a time when we thought this would never happen.
"We think she is up to going back to school, but if Sally feels she isn't up to it at any time then she will come back home."
Mrs Slater added: "The last few months have felt like a long time, but the summer has flown by.
"She's a lot better than she was, physically. Although she is not 100% she is getting there.
"But she always has the risk of catching an infection because her immune system has been suppressed for so long."
Sally's condition deteriorated rapidly after she contracted a mystery virus which brought on cardiomyopathy.
She was moved from a unit in Leeds to the regional heart centre at the Freeman Hospital on March 21.
Four days later, doctors there fitted her with a revolutionary plastic artificial heart to buy more time for a donor to be found.
Sally has had regular check-ups ever since to monitor her progress, and doctors have been delighted with the recovery she has made.
She celebrates her birthday in two week's time.