Part 2: Courts, tribunals and coroners Chapter 1: Criminal procedure Section 14: Involvement of parent or guardian in proceedings conducted in writing
Section 34A of the Children and Young Persons Act 1933 ("the CYPA 1933") states that where a child or young person is charged with an offence or is for any other reason brought before the court, the court may (if the child is 16 years and over) or must (if the child is under 16 years) require a parent or guardian to attend at court during all stages of the proceedings unless it would be unreasonable to do so having regards to the circumstances of the case.
	Section 14, subsection (1), introduces a number of amendments to section 34A of the CYPA 1933 so that the court may (if the child is 16 years and over) or must (if the child is under 16 years) notify a parent or guardian when proceedings against a child or young person are conducted in writing/online outside of a courtroom hearing if they are unaware (e.g. when a child or young person is invited to provide a written/online indication of plea where an allocation decision is required in accordance with new section 24ZA of the MCA 1980) unless it would be unreasonable to do so having regards to the circumstances of the case.
	Section 14, subsection (2), changes the heading of section 34A of the CYPA 1933 from "Attendance at court of parent or guardian" to "Attendance at court or other involvement of parent or guardian" to account for the additional written/online proceedings that will also be addressed within this provision.
	Section 14, subsection (3), inserts new subsections (1A) to (1C), which specify the circumstances in which a court may (if the child is 16 years and over) or must (if the child is under 16 years) notify a parent or guardian of proceedings conducted in writing if they are unaware unless and to the extent that the court is satisfied that it would be unreasonable to do so, having regard to the circumstances of the case.
	New subsection (1A) specifies that where a child or young person is charged with an offence, the court may (if the child is 16 years and over) or must (if the child is under 16 years) exercise the functions conferred by new subsections (1B) and (1C) unless it would be unreasonable to do so having regards to the circumstances of the case.
	New subsection (1B) specifies that where any stage of the proceedings against a child are conducting in writing/online, the court may or (as the case may be) must ascertain whether the child or young person’s parent or guardian is aware that the written/online proceedings are taking place and if they are not, provide them with information about the proceedings.
	New subsection (1C) specifies that where a child or young person provides a written/online indication of plea under new section 24ZA of the MCA 1980, the court may or (as the case may be) must ascertain whether the child or young person’s parent or guardian is aware that a written/online indication of plea has been provided and if they are not, bring the written/online indication of plea to their attention.
	Section 14, subsection (4), amends section 34A(2) of the CYPA 1933, which makes provision for the application of section 34A in relation to a child or young person for whom a local authority have parental responsibility, so that new subsections (1A) to (1C) also apply.